Part 5/14:
Musk emphasized that future conflicts will be dominated by AI-controlled drones, with human pilots increasingly being phased out from frontlines due to their vulnerability and the precision of autonomous systems. He cited advancements in computer-controlled sniper rifles capable of micron-level accuracy as evidence that machines can outperform humans in lethality, decisiveness, and endurance.
Leveraging AI for military advantage requires mass production and rapid scaling. However, he pointed out a significant challenge: the U.S. manufacturing base currently cannot produce drones quickly enough to outmatch adversaries deploying large drone fleets, such as the Ukrainian effort to produce a million drones by 2025.