LatentAI CEO Jags Kandasamy has asserted that China is significantly ahead of India in utilizing artificial intelligence for defense technology. Kandasamy, founder of the U.S.-based defense tech company LatentAI, recently spoke about India's defense tech ecosystem and the use of AI in modern warfare.
China's advancements in AI for military applications are evident in its investments in autonomous weapons, missile guidance systems, and AI-enhanced command structures. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has already begun deploying AI across major warfighting functions under the banner of "intelligentized warfare". This includes applying AI to improve the performance of battlefield equipment, such as artillery systems, and integrating generative AI with military drones to automatically target opponents' radars with better precision. China is also assisting Pakistan with its Centre of Artificial Intelligence and Computing, which has a Cognitive Electronic Warfare program using AI and machine learning for tactical decision-making.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's (ASPI) Critical Technology Tracker indicates China's dominance across various critical and emerging technologies, leading in 37 out of 44 technologies monitored, including those in the defense, space, and AI sectors. China has filed over 90,000 AI-related patents. This scale and pace of AI expansion reflect China's strategic prioritization of emerging technologies, backed by substantial investment and state support.
In comparison, India is leveraging AI primarily for surveillance, reconnaissance, logistics, and cybersecurity, with developments such as AI-enabled drone swarms and the launch of AI-based defense products. The Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) was established in 1986 to develop autonomous technologies in combat, path planning, sensors, and target identification. However, despite these efforts, India lags behind China in the scale and depth of AI integration into its defense systems.
To maintain competitiveness, India needs to strengthen its AI ecosystem, invest in semiconductor production, and prioritize AI-driven defense technology. Increased government funding and R&D incentives for AI startups can encourage innovation and reduce dependency on foreign models. It is critical to develop military-grade AI innovations to counter China's AI-enabled warfare capabilities. If India lags in AI development, it risks becoming technologically dependent on foreign AI solutions, potentially compromising national security and economic strength.
Despite China's lead, India is making strides in AI adoption for governance, inclusivity, and ethical innovation. India's AI systems are viewed as more transparent and less intrusive, which has improved public perception and boosted user engagement. Furthermore, foreign investment in India's AI sector has risen due to transparent frameworks and a favorable business environment.
To address the challenges of deploying AI in remote and connectivity-limited locations, Latent AI and InferQ have partnered to deliver AI solutions for real-time operations to the Indian Defence Forces. This partnership focuses on deploying AI model compression and deployment technologies to tactical edge devices, such as drones and unmanned systems. These technologies empower devices in the field with advanced AI capabilities while meeting size, weight, and power constraints. By enabling efficient AI operation on resource-constrained devices, these solutions facilitate real-time decision-making without relying on constant communication with central servers.
