Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said that Artificial Intelligence had already taken over defense targeting decisions on Aegis missile warships of the US Navy.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Artificial Intelligence had already taken over defense targeting decisions on Aegis missile warships of the US Navy, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work told a conference at the Atlantic Council.

"You'll have learning machines that sense we're under attack," Work stated on Monday. "We already have it in the Aegis combat system. [In any attack up to] 60 inbound missiles… the machine takes over… Machines will give extraordinarily good options to the commander."

Work assured the conference that the US government would never allow Artificial Intelligence to have the power to fire nuclear missiles in any offensive capacity.

But he also warned that the US armed forces could not allow other countries to develop Artificial Intelligence with that offensive capability without matching them.

"Machines [are] taking over from humans key decisions of when to launch both offensive and defensive missiles… In the next decade it’s going to become clear when and where we will delegate authority to machines. We will delegate [some] authority to machines," Work explained.

US military and naval commanders needed to be trained to question the conclusions and options they would be offered by Artificial Intelligence, Work continued.

US commanders also need to be trained how to outwit Artificial Intelligence, he concluded.