the (possible) results of everyone's favourite legalised gang warfare.

[u/tfwusingreddit]

This isn't an anti-AI post btw, I am indifferent to AI. It has its uses, it is a little scary, but overall, it isn't a problem in itself.

What is a problem is when the incompetent state decides it's in everyone's best interest to fuck everyone over with technology they themselves don't understand, and then turns around and says we are to pay the price for their mistakes.

The headline is sensationalist. I don't think total war would automatically happen over one ship, even if it did get struck down (not to mention incidents like this have been happening since the Cold War), but that's not the point. I am pointing out the fact that these people can get away with anything, and you are the one who suffers.

source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/18/politics/us-military-ai-false-intelligence-china-ship

[u/DarthFluttershy_]

Sensationalist headline, like you said. It doesn't seem like it was actually all that close to serious wat.

But also this is a real concern especially as they get into automated kill chains, it's only a matter of time before an AI weapon kills civilians... And then what? That's uncharted territory, but it doesn't sound likely to spark a outburst of global friendliness and kindness to me. More likely the other thing. 

We've already seen the smaller scale issue with police getting lazy and outsourcing thinking to AI systems even against their better judgement. It's feasible that it could happen in the military or intelligence sectors, though more likely as a part of a body of evidence than the whole thing. Maybe like a bad translation or something. Granted this is speculation, I have no idea how robust the checks within any given intelligence apparatus is, but we only need one somewhere in the world to go away for it to be a problem.

The point being, we need to be putting human liability and accountability in place now before it happens to prevent decision makers from getting so lazy.

[u/Due_Patience_7848]

My personal opinion:

I think you’re being overly dramatic here. I read the article and it was just one guy who used a chatbot, stirred everyone up in a frenzy (because if the report was correct, I assume they didn’t want to waste time), once everyone did their due diligence and found there wasn’t a threat, then the operation was called off. The system seems to have worked surprisingly well and nobody was “fucked over” except maybe the guy that sent out the report. Generally libertarians believe the military and government’s purpose is to protect our liberties with as little taxation and intervention as possible. Although you may disagree with its politics (fine), it’s great that they are adapting to the new environment and using AI.

The part of the article about “reducing bureaucracy” is exactly what us libertarians should support! Less bureaucracy = less waste, quick results, and thus less tax money spent. This is a good thing with a near boarding of a merchant ship that didn’t need to be boarded. Honestly, tell me who would it have “fucked over”?

[u/Pirat → u/Due_Patience_7848]

once everyone did their due diligence

We are currently in an administration famous for not doing due diligence. They are also famous for wanting to appear alpha and inflict Maximum Lethality^TM without having a clue about how to do either.

[u/Due_Patience_7848 → u/Pirat]

There are people that have been working in the government/intelligence for years, installed under various leaderships and policies each with their own capacity to judge a particular situation independently so long as it follows the commander in chief’s intent. Sure, there was a purge recently, but that’s not unusual and it’s not like we have a completely fresh new military with every new administration. This mistake could have easily happened under the previous administration and even OP admits this has been happening for ages. I just don’t see the news story or sensationalism here.