A Ukrainian tech startup has developed artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled drones that can be programmed to recognize and shoot based on uniforms.
The unmanned platforms are reportedly capable of communicating with one another, make quick decisions on where to attack, and approach targets as a “swarm.”
However, to ensure the ethical use of AI, the developer made sure that the drones will require human confirmation before carrying out a coordinated attack.
Apart from precision strikes, the cutting-edge platforms can support intelligence gathering missions “faster than any human could.”
Once deployed, the drone swarm is expected to give Ukraine a significant battlefield advantage against Russian forces.
Huge Investment in Drones
According to Serhii Kuprienko, founder of the unnamed Ukrainian firm, the drone swarm solution was designed with one core mission in mind — “get robots to do the fighting” instead of humans.
This philosophy underscores Ukraine’s increased investment in autonomous platforms to gain the upper hand against Moscow while avoiding more military casualties.
A recent report by The Times revealed that before the invasion began in February 2022, Kyiv only had around 20 military technology companies.
But now more than 200 entities are focusing on defense tech, especially autonomous systems.
“They [Russians] fight, they die, they send more people — they don’t care. But that’s not how we see war,” Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Alex Bornyakov said.
Earlier this year, Ukraine became the first country in the world to establish a separate military branch dedicated solely to drone warfare.