Flawed AI report nearly triggered US strike on Chinese ship

A flawed AI-generated intelligence report nearly triggered a US military operation against a Chinese vessel in West Asia during the war with Iran, according to CNN. The operation was halted shortly before it was due to take place. The false report claimed the ship was carrying nuclear weapons-related material and was circulated across the US military this spring. Preparations included armed personnel ready to board the vessel and military aircraft in the air before officials discovered an AI system had produced the conclusion. A US Special Operations Command analyst used a chatbot to combine open-source and classified intelligence, incorrectly concluding the cargo was linked to a nuclear programme. The incident highlights risks of AI in military decision-making, though the ship's actual cargo and the AI system involved remain unclear.