US Army Explores AI 'Values' While Humanity Explores Its Own Ethics
📰 THE STORY: Joseph Welch, executive director of US Army Transformation and Training Command, tells Bloomberg that AI will help soldiers make better 'human based judgments consistent with our laws and our values' and seeks 'once in a generation change' for rapidly advancing military technology. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The phrase 'consistent with our laws and our
values' rings hollow against a backdrop of historical atrocities enabled by 'advanced' US military technology. From the firebombing of Tokyo in 1945 (100,000+ dead) to the widespread use of Agent Orange in Vietnam (millions of Vietnamese affected, 2 million US veterans), and the recent 20-year occupation of Afghanistan ($2 trillion spent, 243,000 direct war deaths) that ended in ignominious
defeat, 'values' often take a backseat to strategic objectives and corporate profits. Double Standard: Western governments condemning the use of AI in warfare by 'adversaries' (e.g., China, Russia) while simultaneously accelerating their own development is a recurring theme. The narrative consistently portrays Western militarization as defensive or 'value-aligned,' while similar advancements by
non-aligned nations are framed as escalatory threats. This selective outrage ignores the fact that the US is the world's largest arms exporter, fueling conflicts globally. Follow the Money: The drive for 'rapidly advancing technology' in warfare is a goldmine for defense contractors. Companies like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman saw their stocks soar after recent conflicts,