Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Indian Military Warfare And Its Ramifications on Human Rights

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI)[1] is a special and complex field with high potential that promises value, be it for automated decision making within the military planners’ community or overshadowing the human intelligence. It is ably put by Marvin Minsky, that, “Within a generation [...] the problem of creating 'artificial intelligence' will substantially be solved”.[2] And, since then it has come a long way, much to the surprise of human race.

ROLE OF AI IN MILITARY WARFARE

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds prominent significance for facilitating military decision making and enhancing the lethalness of the forces with minimum causalities to the forces[3]. This write up focuses on various AI options and developments being pursued by Indian Military Planners, its possible ramifications on core human rights principles and involving legal and ethical issues.

AI promises various facets including but not limited to minimisation of human causalities, strengthening of warfare tactics resulting in accentuating the combat edge of the military and also acting as a force multiplier.

In context to current scenario and with the growing issues and tensions on both eastern and western fronts, military planners will be forced to employ a large number of autonomous vehicles[4] whether in air, land or sea that would be highly capable for executing its missions on their own with less involvement of human interface. However, in the absence of consensus on how Meaningful Human Control (MHC) is to be specified, it concedes that there is lack of clarity on the definition of LAWS in hand[5].

A close perusal of these automation technologies bring into fore, the concerns whether AI employed systems should be allowed to execute such dangerous military operations, especially in scenarios where human lives and human privacy is at stake and that is where the world is divided in two streams.

A HUMAN RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE ON USING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

(a)   ISTAR[6] requirements by the military planners by the so called Autonomous systems for zeroing in to High Value Targets may require continuous collecting large swarms of data of ordinary and benign individuals thus interfering with privacy of an individual. Presently, there is no data protection law in India which can act as a shield in preventing the privacy of a human individual. Edward Snowden in his revelations in WikiLeaks has also divulged out some of the best kept secrets by the States so far.[7]

(b)   It is observed many times that during pre-programmed missions, due to shift or change of location of any High Value Targets, there occurs a chance of collateral damage resulting in loss of property and innocent human lives.

(c)   There is a growing fear that machines with inbuilt AI will become so smart that they will take over the realms and end human race & civilisation as fictionally depicted in the Terminator Series[8]. If we presume that’s not the case, certainly we cannot afford to undermine a misuse or abuse of AI in the future.

(d)   Lack of Distinguishing – Parties to an armed conflict[9] are required to distinguish civilian population(s) and its assets from military population(s) and assets and to target only the latter of the two but that distinction might not be available for AI powered weapons.

(e)   Lack of Proportionality[10] - Parties to an armed conflict are required to determine the civilian cost of achieving a particular military target and prohibits an attack if the civilian harm exceeds the military advantage but that might not be readily available for AI powered weapons.

(f)    Also a human remains under the protection of the principles of humanity and the dictates of the public conscience but that is not possible for AI Powered weapons since such adherence requires a subjective judgement, which machines can never achieve.

International Humanitarian Laws (IHL) under Geneva Conventions[11] revealed that already people and communities are ranging in long debates for banning and further developments of the AI Powered Systems.

COUNTER PERSPECTIVE

There is an equally supportive body of opinion which states that development and deployment of AI Powered vehicles is not illegal, and in fact would lead in saving human lives[12]. Some of their counter views are as follows:-

1.     AI Powered weapons do not need to have self-preservation as a foremost drive and hence can be used in a self-sacrificing manner, saving human lives in the process. E.g. usage of kamikaze drones[13] such as Harop[14] and Harpy[15] instead of actually sending Armed forces personnel.

2.     It can be designed without any emotions that normally cloud human judgment during battle leading to unnecessary loss of lives.

3.     The development of better AI sensors superior to human capabilities would enable systems to pierce the fog of war, leading to better informed “kill” decisions.

4.     Autonomous weapons would have a wide range of uses in scenarios where civilian loss would be minimal or non-existent, such as naval warfare[16].

5.     And then the question of legality comes which depends on how these weapons are used, not their development or existence. Also it is too early to argue over the legal issues surrounding autonomous weapons because the technology itself has not been completely developed as India still is in nascent stage of development, so it’s too early to speak about LAWS now[17].

As the saying goes, ‘for Peace we must prepare for the War’. Even when most of the leaders of the world are supporters of peace, it is the responsibility of governments to keep defense system technically advanced. Robots equipped with the Artificial Intelligence can do the ground work of the soldiers, which will definitely benefit the army and will save hundreds of lives. But, as a result of being preoccupied with the huge challenges faced by Indian Military on operational and logistic fronts including issues related to modernization, the AI paradigm is yet to become a key driving force in the doctrinal thinking and perspective planning of the Indian Military Planners.

AI MILITARY WEAPONS IN INDIAN MILITARY ARMOURY

The Indian military landscape is comprised of a wide variety of scenarios where AI Powered Vehicles can be deployed to advantage. With the progressive development of AI technologies, following scenarios can be visualized as under:

1.     Autonomous systems such as DRDO Daksh[18] designed to disarm IEDs[19] are already in use by Indian Army (IA) and National Security Guards (NSG), although there is scope for further improvement. Such autonomous systems are non-lethal and defensive in nature.

2.     We are currently in the process of procuring manually piloted armed UAVs. Future armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (USVs) with increasing degrees of autonomy in ISR[20] and kill functions are getting visualised. Such systems would be classified as lethal and offensive.

3.     There is a scope for deployment of Robot Sentries, duly tailored to our requirements, along the Line of Control (LOC), Line of Actual Control (LAC), International Border (IB) on the lines of SGR-A1[21]. Such a deployment would be categorised as lethal and defensive in character.

4.     DRDO’s main facility working in this area is the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), whose vision, mission and objectives, all refer to development of intelligent systems, AI, Robotics technologies.

5.     CAIR has achieved some headway in making some prototype systems, such as “Muntra” UGV[22], remotely operated vehicles, wall climbing and flapping wing robots, etc. 

It is now in the process of developing a Multi Agent Robotics Framework (MARF) for catering to a myriad of military applications. However, in order to keep in step with progress in the international arena, these efforts alone may not suffice

CONCLUSION

Given the extended borders with our adversaries on two fronts and the volatile Counter Insurgency (CI) scenarios in J&K and in the North-East, it is well appreciated that having sufficient boots on the ground is an absolute must.

At the same time, it is imperative that the Indian Military keeps pace with the changing nature of warfare in the 21st Century, driven by rapid advances in technology on many fronts. AI technologies, after decades of false starts, today appear to be at an inflection point and are rapidly being incorporated into a range of products and services in the commercial environment. It is only a matter of time before they manifest themselves in defence systems, in ways significant enough to usher in a new era.

Notwithstanding the world-wide concern on development of AI weapons from human rights, legal and ethical points of view, it is increasingly clear that, no matter what conventions are adopted at International platforms, R&D in this area is likely to proceed unhindered.

Given our own security landscape, adoption of AI based systems with increasing degrees of autonomy in various operational scenarios is expected to yield tremendous benefits in the coming years and hence, usage of this technology in a formidable manner can save many human lives as “Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows”.

By: Mohit Kansal and Shobhit Aggarwal 


[1] AI wasn't formally founded until 1956, at a conference at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, where the term "artificial intelligence" was first coined.

[2] The Tumultuous Search for Artificial Intelligence" (Basic Books, 1994)

[4] As per Human Rights Watch (HRW), “fully autonomous weapons are those that once initiated, will be able to operate without Meaningful Human Control (MHC). They will be able to select and engage targets on their own, rather than requiring a human to make targeting and kill decisions for each individual attack.”

[5] Presentation to PIR Center Conference on Emerging Technologies, Moscow, 29 September 2016, Delivered by Mary Wareham, Human Rights Watch, on behalf of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. URL: https://www.stopkillerrobots.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/KRC_Moscow_29Sept2016.pdf

 

[6] ISTAR stands for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. In its macroscopic sense, ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing the information they gather. From: Report to the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives — General Accounting Office, 2008-03-15

[7] Burrough, Bryan; Ellison, Sarah; Andrews, Suzanna (April 23, 2014). "The Snowden Saga: A Shadowland of Secrets and Light". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 29, 2016

[8] Hogan, Michael; Whitmore, Greg (2015-01-08). "The top 20 artificial intelligence films - in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-08-29.

[9] How is the Term "Armed Conflict" Defined in International Humanitarian Law? Excerpt from International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Opinion Paper, March 2008

[10] Stated in Prosecutor v. Prlić, principle of proportionality is defined in Article 51(5)(b) of Additional Protocol 1 of Geneva Convention 1949 and was later drawn by the drafters of Rome Statute of International Criminal Court for Article 8(2)(b)(iv) as War Crime of causing excessive incidental damage civilian objects and loss to civilians.

[11] Definition of International Humanitarian Laws - International humanitarian law is a set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. Source URL: https://www.icrc.org/ en/doc/ assets/files/ other/ what_is_ihl.pdf

[13] A loitering munition (also known as a suicide drone or kamikaze drone) is a weapon system category in which the munition loiters around the target area for some time, searches for targets and attacks once a target is located. By Army regulations, it is categorized as a “missile”. That's why the Army prefers the term "loitering munition” for these drones.

[14] Harop is a loitering munition (LM) system developed in Israel by the MBT missiles division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Harop unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) has been developed from the Harpy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), also developed by the IAI. This combat drone was unveiled in India at the Aero-India show in February 2009.

[15] The IAI Harpy is a loitering munition produced by Israel Aerospace Industries. The Harpy is designed to attack radar systems and is optimised for the suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) role. It carries a high explosive warhead. The Harpy has been sold to several foreign nations, including South Korea, Turkey, India, and China.

[16] R. Shashank Reddy, ‘India And The Challenge Of Autonomous Weapons’, Paper published in Carnegie India, Source URL: https://carnegieendowment.org/files/CEIP_CP275_Reddy_final.pdf

[17] LAWS, often dubbed as “killer robots” can be ethically challenged view lethality and machines replacing humans in taking critical tactical decisions. Owning responsibility for a misfire is the main hurdle in deployment and commissioning of LAWS. LAWS raise a host of philosophical, psychological and legal issues since it is a killer machine having AI embedded with no human control. In fact, these weapons have the potential to disrupt the present conventional way of fighting war and many human rights activists are up in arms to ban LAWS, as they would violate the International Humanitarian Laws (IHL) under the Geneva Convention and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) under Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

[18] Daksh is a battery-operated remote-controlled robot on wheels that was created with a primary function of bomb recovery. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation, it is fully automated. It can navigate staircases, negotiate steep slopes, navigate narrow corridors and tow vehicles to reach hazardous materials. Source URL: https://drdo.gov.in/robotics

[19] An improvised explosive device (IED) attack is the use of a “homemade” bomb and/or destructive device to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract. IEDs are used by criminals, vandals, terrorists, suicide bombers, and insurgents. Because they are improvised, IEDs can come in many forms, ranging from a small pipe bomb to a sophisticated device capable of causing massive damage and loss of life. IEDs can be carried or delivered in a vehicle; carried, placed, or thrown by a person; delivered in a package; or concealed on the roadside. The term IED came into common usage during the Iraq War that began in 2003. Factsheet from the National Academies and the Department of Homeland Security titled, ‘News & Terrorism – Communicating in a Crisis’, Source URL: https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/prep_ied_fact_sheet.pdf

[20] See Supra Note 6.

[21] The SGR-A1 is a type of sentry gun that was jointly developed by Samsung Techwin (now Hanwha Aerospace) and Korea University to assist South Korean troops in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. It is widely considered as the first unit of its kind to have an integrated system that includes surveillance, tracking, firing, and voice recognition. Pike, John, "The Samsung Techwin SGR-A1 Sentry Guard Robot". (November 7, 2011), Global Security.

[22] MUNTRA" UGV is a BMP class vehicle converted into tele-operated & autonomous vehicles. The UGV has diverse range of technologies and systems incorporated in it, including electro-optics, sensor fusion, electro-mechanical actuators and communication systems. Source URL: https://www.drdo.gov.in/muntra-ugv

 

Thursday, April 2, 2020

We May Have Given Up But System Has Not


Citizens like us were pessimists “Ki Yaar is desh ka khuch nahin Sokata” “we are doomed” “Bahar Chale Jao”

We used to curse the government system and their lazy attitude and have given examples of west and Chinese, “Look what they have done” “we should learn from them”

We wished for overhauling of the system and emulating the same on our wester counterparts.
This dangerous corona epidemic that has brought misery to the world where we are daily seeing the proven systems are being shattered apart and people are giving up.

The same Indian system that we used to curse is brazenly fighting and people that are in the system are indefatigably standing in between for protecting the people who cursed them.

Barring two or three incidents that are due to ignorance and stupidity of the ignorant, this epidemic has brought and unimaginable unity among the people and importantly we have started to value the things that we were ignoring:

·         Self Reflection – That only the rat races that we take daily in our lives is not the end, our world can fall apart and all the permutations and combinations that we undertake and long term planning that we made can be easily cut short. Whatever the smaller and important things that we were ignoring really mean much more than that. Importantly as a Nation we can believe we can fight and come out stronger compared to much stronger powers in this world
·         Value of People – For the very first time we are appreciating the Housekeeping, Security, Doctors, Nurses, Policemen, media, Government Staff and other essential staff
·         Unity Among Diversity – Barring the storm over social media that remains there during any crisis, this epidemic has brought out the true unity among people. People from all casts, creed and religious are diligently working to fight against this epidemic
·         Innovations – Where world is grappling with the shortage of the masks, ventilators, we are producing the same through our various defence, government and private industries and that too at a much much lesser price
·         Resourcefulness – The epidemic prove us that we are capable of mobilizing the resources at much faster rates and we can take care of the food, transportation and shelter of its population and mind you we have not deployed the paramilitary and military forces
·         Stricter Actions & Compliance – The leadership has proved that stricter action can be taken and people wholeheartedly will support it and they are ready to face the uneasiness that comes with it

Many Doubtful and pessimists have antithesis on government’s handling of migrant workers, Jamat crisis, rising no of cases, uneasiness of lockdown where other countries have not followed the same.
The once in lifetime crisis for which we do not have any Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or any War gaming done beforehand and also we don’t see any remedy of the same in the near future that gives us a optimism.

Whatever happens ahead we as Indian nationalists can at least put aside any doubts and differences and trust the people who are standing there in between and protecting us.

India have been a land of warriors and godly people, its strength lies in its people, and we will not go into oblivion without a fight.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

An Open Letter to AAP Punjab

Though being a staunch BJP and Akali Supporter through out my life, many should believe I have no desire and inclination to write to AAP about what went wrong in this elections for AAP. Some still label me as Modi Bhakt.

I am as ordinary person as anybody can be and some will doubt what authority led me into writing to you and being not actively involved in politics may further reduce my chances of the advice which I will proclaim. Some of my prime reasons for this write up Are:

1. The larger image of alternate politics which AAP projected still kindles in many hearts.
2. Democracy can thrive only when there are active alternates and where is good opposition.
3. Record Some of the vital experience and feelings that we all have gone through this high decible spectacle.
4. Advices from all over the places will be pouring onto you and I thought why not I should also give it a try.

I always believe with conviction in strong democracy and though AAP started with such a strong reasons at the outset, it veered off completely in the middle leading to such a drubbing. The urgent introspection is needed so that some of the vital short comings can be undone which are important for this country to move forward.

But it's really really important for good introspection if you will not cajaole from the following:
1. Still AAP came second and we will be the main opposition party
2. In 3 Years Time we manage to do that much amount of work
3. We got the Akali- BJP nexas and they will not be able to resurface in future.

Mind you these things will do more harm to you as a party:

1. Akali- BJP was destined to loose this time due to Huge Anti-incumbancy Factor and AAP was right fit to capitalise on these factors, the projected issues of chitta, drugs, corruptions will remain as these are too much exaggerated during elections.

2. AAP was supposed to earn more than 85+ seats, Raghav Chadha went on TV to claim that he will quit active politics, that means stakes and expectations were too high from AAP and you did not deliver on this.

Contrary to the facts that has been projected during elections let me apprise you of what other faction of people felt in Punjab.

1. Silently and Slowly the people who have been given tickets on AAP were becoming more authoritative and some times resorted to cohercion for intimidating other party Supporters, you will not appreciate, the revenge factor played a big factor in people moving away from your support. U would like to ask for ground reports from ur volunteers where in AAP partymen forcefully barged into others homes and exchange of bullets have happened.
2. Many places Tickets were not given to commoners and this led into people believing AAP has become Khas Admi Party.
3. Always Opposing Prime minister and Centre Government even on its good work lead people in believing your anarchist ways. People want a diplomatic and negotiating government for working not the people who always keeps on dealing others Head On. This surely obstructs the work. The tone used by everybody against PM led to lowering of the values bestowed by our constitution. Siding with just anybody and everybody who is against Center also damaged the image, no matter what and how you justify it
4. Passing the buck by Delhi Government on Centre for every folly was another reason. In business it is always told to be good negotiator and get the things done. But Delhi Government first time is creating anarchy and then fooling people Center is not allowing them to work
5. Never ever heard of Dalit Card in Punjab Before, leading people in believing AAP is worst than contemporary Politics.
6. Punjabis can never be controlled by remote, nature has deeply emboldened this attribute into Punjabis. Courage and valuing courage are also some of Punjabis Key attributes. Many Times it was felt that AAP Center is calling all the shots and the regional leadership is not having any decision making capability and not projecting the CM face also lead into believing AAP Punjab is fearful. Look at the Darings of Captain Amrinder Singh and Sardar Navjot Singh Sidhu who have the guts in taking decisions without thinking of repurcussions and silently people supported them.
7. A Large chunk of people from Punjab Work Outside Punjab and AAP image is so maligned due to actions of AAP Delhi that they will never support AAP for that and image has to be cleaned and truce has to be reached some where with others and Center government
8. Absence of Delhi Government Politicans from office for long and going frequently on holidays also lead into people believing these guys are good for nothing
9.Too much advertisement also went against you, it makes people believe in two things a) no other government is doing this at such a massive scale b) these guys badly want power and want themselves to retain the government's perhaps you forgot the silent marketing concept by people.
10. No clear stand on anything and too many U-Turns - Mostly people complaints about this from SYL to Z Security etc.
11. Not Able to retain, placate intial founding members and mentors such as Anna Hazra, Yadav Ji etc. This lead to total destruction of the Image.
12. Appeasement Politics - Though I am not sure about this many people told me that AAP was giving air to radicals and so much fear was there among people
13. Exaggeration - Every Country and State has its list of problems, the drugs problem is there in Punjab like in Delhi and Himachal, it has been too much exaggereated leading a bad name to Punjabis in world. Everywhere we go people use to ask so many questions on that alone, but I tell you mostly our punjabi values are such (inculcated by parents and our gurus) we stay away from these things and I know huge huge no of people who stay away from these things. Some people believed AAP are maligning our culture. There can be other ways in dealing with these problems.
14. Responsibilty - People have problems in their lives and they have given u mandate so that you can solve their problems. Each time your party men do press conference and tell people how PM and Center are creating problems, it makes them believe u r not acting responsibily. They want things getting done; not about the problems on the way.

Though I am posting this write up on my blog if it ever reaches you, AAP Punjab can takes its cues from the reasons detailed here and hope corrective actions can be taken so that party does not get the drubbing that it got in recent elections.

Some of your members are really really wonderfull and they believe what other senior people say and it's further requested that do not project conspiracy theories to them such as

1. U will get all the media behind prisons
2. U have solid proofs against everybody and PM
3. EVMs are faulty elections are rigged
4. Your men are honest only etc. Etc.

Some of these things are based upon pure conjecture and when these people proclaim
these conspiracy theories to others they become laughing stocks and leading to lowering of the morale and thus leading to working at sub optimal levels.

U will also like to advice your people and senior members that too much media talking and too much marketing will also lead to lowering of value by public. Why can not AAP work selflessly and silently and let words of mouth spread that here is a party which can work and do wonders for country.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Seemayan Bulyean Tujhe!!! Tu Chal Rahi!!!!!

Everytime I watch movies LoC Kargil Or Border, Nationalist Emotions run very high inside me. These proclivities have remained ever since and have further accentuated since my childhood. I always wanted to be fighter pilot but lack of guidance and encouragement led me to forsake it completely. No wonder I keep tab on defence news so fervently, watches these movies very often and try to educate people as much as I can about the developments and sacrifices of our armed forces. An "Armed Forces Aficionado" will effectively defines my character.

Thus it would be entirely natural for me to choose and value highly of friends who are into armed forces, live in a society having armed forces veterans. Over the years I have read and listened to stories of valour and sacrifices. It made me wonder how on the earth can such acts be performed voluntarily without even caring for ones self. And this inquisitiveness further lead me in asking question whosoever I can find appropriate and generally I got the very same answers:

"It's routine job and it's nothing like such that you are fascinating"

Perhaps we as ordinary citizens exaggerate to ourselves the deeds performed by such valiant men as we have not taken that plunge. Perhaps not, it requires superhuman faith and belief e.g. For a serving captain to leave his pregnant wife alone with servant and go on patrolling and search for terrorist in the thick forests of North East for more than 2 weeks. Perhaps their minds are forged out of steel which selflessly sacrifices their lives for protection of the motherland and for others and perhaps their hearts still remain as gentle as lotus flower which let them value life and live every moment. 

I could feel among them the urgent sense of doing things, meeting and staying touch with the people and coaching other people on taking life very easily. Perhaps they see so much "blood of their brother in arms" they always remember mortality and non invincibility of the human beings.

They are able to emulate the highest level of life characteristics bettered only by yogis (whatever whether it's Karma, Bhakti, Jana, Raja) apart from yogis there is much to learn from the actions and thought process of such selfless men.

We all are capable of performing such deeds but our mind and bodies are not aligned in the way that is required. In an already enigmatic world we complicate our thoughts actions further which takes its toil on ones mind and body. Ordinary citizens create boundaries for everything and this restraints them for working full potential.

These boundaries can be broken only if we understand them first and then start reflecting on very fundamental and vital aspects of our lives. The process which are only essential for our survival in this world are given unnecessary importance over the philosophical and intellectual knowledge for one to transcend this physical nature.

I am making myself a commitment that what if I could not make it into Armed Forces, I still can be commando in this ordinary world bettering myself daily and Wining small small victories. The insatiable fire that is burning inside me can only be soothed if I could find it proper channel.

Someone has beautiful written " If I am half a percent smarter than previous year I would be genius by the time I will die"

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Corporate Shayari


Uthate nahin jo mere sathi mere phone aaj kal

Dette nahin jawab jo aaj kal meri kis bhi baat ka

Tum hi woh jin se main dhere dhere sikh raha hun sunhera ek paath zindigi ka

Jis din bhi apni bhi bulandi chayegi, yaad shiad tumhe tab hamari ayyegi

Khol ke main bhi tab bathyunga hisab teri attendance aur tere account ka


Khafa na hona e mere dost agar kal waqt na ho mere pass teri kisi farmiash ka

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Emotional Letter from Employee to his/her Salary


Dear Salary:

I Miss You Dear Salary!!!!!

Plz Come Back To Me …Plz Stay With Me.

You Left Me In Such A Rush Last Month, I Didn't Have Even Time To Tell U About My Plans.

Pls come back to me.

I love you dear salary and I hope you love me too?

See you later in my alert!!!!!!

Bye
Your's Truly