The war in Ukraine continues and although we often hear about military actions, behind the scenes it appears that the nation is evolving into the world's technological research and development laboratory.
A Time report claims that Palantir Technologies has integrated its software into the daily operations of the Ukrainian government, using AI to analyze data from various sources, providing military options to commanders.
This technology has been used for more than just battlefield intelligence; It also helps collect evidence of war crimes, clear landmines, resettle refugees and root out corruption.
Building a technology sector
Palantir is not the only technology company helping Ukraine. Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Starlink have contributed to the country's defense, offering protection against cyber attacks, migrating critical government data to the cloud and maintaining connectivity.
Clearview AI, a controversial facial recognition company, has provided its tools to Ukrainian officials, who have used them to identify the Russian presence on their territory.
According to Time, collaboration between foreign tech companies and the Ukrainian military is driving a new type of experimentation in military AI, marking a significant shift in the character of warfare. While some view the deployment of artificial intelligence tools with skepticism, Ukraine and its private sector allies are playing a longer game: creating a war laboratory for the future.
The potential global ramifications of this are immense. In conflicts fought over software and artificial intelligence, technology companies could wield significant power as independent actors. This could lead to advances that ignore legal, ethical or regulatory standards, and these new tools risk falling into the hands of adversaries.
Ukraine has been working to build a technology sector that can not only help win the war but also serve as a pillar of its economy in the future. Tech CEOs, defense conferences and business summits have all gotten the message that Ukraine is open for business. The response has been positive, with investors launching funds to invest in Ukrainian startups and defense technology companies setting up shop in kyiv.
However, the use of tools provided by companies such as Palantir and Clearview raises complicated questions about when and how invasive technology should be used in times of war, as well as to what extent privacy rights should be extended. Despite these concerns, Ukraine continues to serve as a living laboratory for AI-based systems, marking a significant change in the character of warfare.
