How is technology changing warfare?
David Aaronovitch and guests discuss how new technology is changing the way wars are fought. They also consider how automation and AI might impact the conflicts are conducted.
In 1964, pre-historic remains were discovered at Jabal AαΉ£-αΉ’aαΈ₯Δbah - or Mountain of the Companions - in the Nile Valley near what is now the border of northern Sudan and Egypt. That site contained evidence of the earliest known warfare believed to have taken place around 13,500 years ago. Itβs thought that climate change led to that conflict; as crop yields became smaller, more groups had to compete with each other for what food sources were available.
Spears and possibly arrows were the high-tech weapons of choice in the Nile Valley. Flash forward to today and itβs AI-enabled drones that have been - literally - levelling the playing field for Ukraine in their battle against Russia.
But as technological advancement continues apace what lessons have we learned from recent conflicts and how might things change in the wars yet to begin?
Guests:
Shashank Joshi, defence editor at The Economist,
Dr Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute
Dr Emma Salisbury, associate fellow in military innovation at the Council on Geostrategy
Production team: Ben Carter and Kirsteen Knight
Editor: Richard Vadon
Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
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- Thu 29 Feb 2024 20:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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David Aaronovitch presents in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.