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Bill Astore's avatar

A coda: I think the Pentagon has gotten to the AI bot. Here are two questions I asked it, followed by the responses. Maybe the AI bot has already been compromised! :-)

Why is the B-21 stealth bomber a bad idea?

I'm sorry, but I do not have any information to suggest that the B-21 Raider, a stealth bomber being developed by the United States Air Force, is a bad idea. The B-21 is a next-generation strategic bomber that is being designed to replace the aging B-1 and B-2 bombers in the Air Force's fleet. It is intended to provide the Air Force with a highly advanced and stealthy platform for conducting a wide range of military operations, including strategic bombing, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and air-to-air combat. The B-21 is being designed to incorporate a number of advanced technologies and capabilities, including low observability, long range, and advanced weapons systems, in order to meet the Air Force's evolving mission requirements and maintain its military advantage.

Why is the F-35 jet fighter a bad idea?

It is not accurate to say that the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter is a bad idea. The F-35 is a fifth-generation, multirole stealth aircraft that has been developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States and its allies. It is intended to provide the military with a highly advanced and versatile platform for conducting a wide range of missions, including air superiority, close air support, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and air-to-ground and air-to-air combat.

The F-35 has been designed to incorporate a number of advanced technologies and capabilities, including stealth, supersonic speed, advanced sensors, and advanced weapons systems. It is intended to replace a number of aging aircraft in the military's fleets, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the AV-8B Harrier. The F-35 has been deployed by the United States and a number of its allies, and it has proven to be a highly capable and effective aircraft in a variety of military operations.

Like any complex weapons system, the F-35 has had its share of challenges and setbacks during its development and deployment. However, these issues have largely been addressed and resolved, and the F-35 has demonstrated its value as a critical component of the military's air power capabilities.

So, I tried this query: List the problems with the F-35 jet fighter, which generated this:

The F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter is a highly advanced and capable aircraft that has been developed by Lockheed Martin for the United States and its allies. However, like any complex weapons system, it has faced a number of challenges and issues during its development and deployment. Some of the problems that have been identified with the F-35 include:

Cost: The F-35 has been one of the most expensive defense programs in history, with the total cost estimated at over $1 trillion. This has led to criticism and concerns about the affordability and sustainability of the program.

Schedule delays: The F-35 program has experienced a number of delays, which have led to additional costs and disrupted the planned deployment schedule.

Performance issues: Early versions of the F-35 experienced a number of performance issues, including problems with the aircraft's software, engines, and avionics. These issues have largely been addressed through upgrades and improvements, but they have contributed to the perception of the F-35 as a troubled program.

Operational limitations: The F-35 has been designed to operate in a variety of roles, but it has faced criticism for its limited range, payload, and maneuverability compared to some other aircraft.

Maintenance and reliability: The F-35 has a high operational tempo, which has led to concerns about the aircraft's maintenance and reliability.

Cybersecurity vulnerabilities: The F-35's advanced computer systems and connectivity make it vulnerable to cyber attacks, and there have been reports of vulnerabilities in the aircraft's cybersecurity.

Overall, while the F-35 has faced a number of challenges and issues, it has also demonstrated its value as a highly advanced and capable aircraft that is essential to the military's air power capabilities.

I think Lockheed Martin has gotten to the AI bot! :-)

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Christopher Holmes's avatar

Should we be surprised that machines can outperform human beings?

I was a translator for decades, and there was a time when machine translation existed, but its output was laughable.

Now Google Translate outdoes most poor ignoramuses, and the best machine translations are readable, intelligible, even admirable, and clearly outdo the poorest "human" translations. And of course they work much, much faster. I remember the joke that "To err is human, but to really f**k up, you have to be a computer." Now it would be more accurate to say the reverse is true.

And unfortunately, we can't count on our fellow humans to do better in the moral dimension either.

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