The US Department of Defense plans to invest hundreds of millions to expand its fleet of drones and autonomous systems. The initiative aims to incorporate more artificial intelligence technology to enhance military capabilities. This includes developing 'small, intelligent, and cost-effective' AI systems, strengthening surveillance equipment and networks to provide real-time information. This has sparked discussions about the ethical and security implications of applying artificial intelligence in the military sector.

The U.S. Air Force plans to invest approximately $5.8 billion over the next five years to build up to 2,000 AI-driven drones. These drones will collaborate with human pilots in combat, with an expected cost of around $3 million each. The drones will first test their dogfighting and target tracking capabilities in simulated scenarios in the Gulf of Mexico.