drone thecipherbrief
A squadron of drones and command systems. Photo: thecipherbrief

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has called on the U.S. military to get rid of what he calls "useless" tanks.

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Saudi Arabia on October 30, he predicted that inexpensive AI drones would soon render traditional forms of combat obsolete.

" The world has a lot of tanks. Those tanks are now largely useless. A $5,000 drone can destroy a $5,000,000 tank," he added.

Mr. Schmidt advised the U.S. government and military on technology for nearly a decade.

He became Chairman of the Department of Defense 's Innovation Council in 2016 and is currently Chairman of the U.S. National Security Council on Artificial Intelligence.

He also works for White Stork, a startup that manufactures AI-powered attack drones.

Speaking at Stanford University in April, he said White Stork's goal is to use AI "in sophisticated, powerful ways."

According to Forbes, Schmidt was interested in "kamikaze drones," a term referring to unmanned systems containing explosives that detonate upon hitting a target.

"The cost of automation has fallen so rapidly that the drone war will eventually eliminate tanks, artillery, and mortars," Schmidt said at FII.

He also expressed surprise at the innovations in drone technology in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. "If you look at drone tactics, it's changing every day," he said.

Ukraine has also developed its own drone program, producing sophisticated systems for missions on land, in the air, and at sea.

(According to Insider)