How the Pentagon is adapting to China’s technological rise

Over the past three decades, Hicks have seen the Pentagon’s transformation – politically, strategically and technically. The government entered the nineties at the end of the tail of the Cold War, when optimism and belief in global cooperation continues to dominate US foreign policy. But this optimism is faint. After September 11, the focus has turned into anti -terrorist actors and non -governmental actors. Then came the recovery of Russia and the increasing beams in China. Hicks obtained two previous periods of government work – the first to complete a doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and join the Think Thank Center on strategic and international studies (CSIS), which later returned to the leadership of the International Security Program after its second tour. “By the time I went back in 2021, there was one representative – the People’s Republic of China (the People’s Republic of China) – which had the ability and will to compete for the international system when prepared,” she says.

In this conversation with Massachusetts Institute Technology Review TechnologyHicks reflects how the Pentagon – or failure to adapt – adapt to a new age of geopolitical competition. It discusses the technological rise of China, the future of artificial intelligence in the war, the signature initiative, Replicator, a Pentagon initiative to create thousands of low -cost independent systems such as drones.

China has described it as “a talented fast follower.“ Do you still think that, especially given the recent developments in artificial intelligence and other technologies?

Yes, I do. China is the largest challenge to the speed we face, which means that it puts a pace for most areas of ability to what we need to be able to defeat them to deter them. For example, surface marine power, missile power, ghost fighter ability. They have put their minds to achieve a certain ability, they tend to get there, and they tend to get there faster.

However, they have a great deal of corruption, and they did not participate in a real conflict or combat operation in the way that Western armies were trained or involved in, and this is a great X factor in the effectiveness of this.

China has taken great technological steps, and its old narration for being a follower – not only in commercial technology, but on a wider scale. Do you think the United States still has a strategic advantage?

I never want to reduce their ability – or the ability of any nation – to create organically when they put their minds on it. But I still think it is a useful comparison to look at the United States model. Since we are a system of free minds, free people and free markets, we have the ability to generate more culturally and organic innovation than statistical model. This is our interest – if we can realize this.

China is advancing, especially when it comes to drones and unmanned systems. What is the size of the problem for us to defense, and can the United States catch?