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The operation was called off only after officials examined the intelligence more closely and discovered that the report had been prepared with help from an AI chatbot.
An E/A-18G aircraft launches from the flight deck of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during night flight operations. (Image: CENTCOM)
The US military came close to intercepting a Chinese vessel in the Middle East earlier this year after receiving an intelligence report that falsely claimed the ship was carrying components linked to a nuclear weapons programme, CNN reported on Friday.
The report, which was circulated across the US military during the war with Iran, triggered preparations to stop the vessel, according to four people familiar with the incident.
Two sources told CNN that armed US personnel were preparing to board the ship, while military aircraft were already in the air.
The operation was called off only after officials examined the intelligence more closely and discovered that the report had been prepared with help from an artificial intelligence chatbot.
According to CNNthe analyst used the chatbot to examine intelligence about the ship’s cargo. The AI tool incorrectly identified the material the vessel was carrying. The report was then turned into a standard intelligence assessment and circulated among military officials.
One source described the report as “entirely false” and said it “almost started a war”.
AI Report Triggered Military Response
CNN said it was unable to establish what the ship was actually carrying or where it was heading.
The incident highlights concerns about the growing use of AI in military and intelligence operations, where incorrect information can have serious consequences.
The chatbot reportedly combined publicly available information with classified intelligence to reach its conclusion about the vessel’s cargo. It was not clear whether the AI system was a commercial product or a tool developed for the US government.
The report was linked to intelligence originating with US Special Operations Command Pacific, based in Hawaii, according to CNN.
A former senior US official familiar with military AI systems told CNN that some internal tools are closely based on commercial AI technology.
Concerns Over AI In Military Decisions
The incident has raised concerns over the risks of relying on AI to process intelligence used for military decisions.
AI is increasingly being adopted by the US military to help analyse information and speed up decisions, including the movement of forces and the identification of potential targets.
US officials have argued that Washington needs to advance quickly in military AI to avoid falling behind China and other potential adversaries.
But the reported incident shows the risks when AI-generated assessments are treated as reliable intelligence without sufficient human checks.
(With inputs from CNN)
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