U.S. nearly boarded Chinese ship on flawed AI intelligence, report says

The U.S. military nearly boarded a Chinese ship in West Asia earlier this year based on flawed intelligence generated with AI assistance, according to a CNN report citing four anonymous sources. The operation was called off after officials determined an AI chatbot had misidentified the ship's cargo. U.S. intelligence had indicated the vessel was carrying nuclear weapons-related components, prompting American forces to prepare an interception. One source said the report was "entirely false" but "almost started a war," though CNN did not specify the ship's actual cargo or destination. U.S. Central Command did not respond to a request for comment. The report follows recent warnings from AI researchers about the technology's risks, including claims it could kill all humans. President Donald Trump has opposed drastically curbing AI development. Separately, Politico reported F-35 jet parts, including a stealth canopy, were diverted to Hong Kong and are now missing.