AI has become a useful tool in our daily lives, helping with everything from planning schedules to generating creative ideas - perhaps replacing us in some aspects.
But it’s also capable of predicting some terrifying possibilities like what weapons might be used in a future World War 3.
With the current state of world politics, President Trump's admittance that we're on the cusp of WW3 and the Doomsday clock striking ever so close to midnight, it’s hard not to wonder: what would a modern world war actually look like?
According to OpenAI's ChatGPT, 'the weapons used would likely be far more advanced and destructive than those of any previous conflict.'
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Here’s a breakdown of the most devastating weapons that could be used in World War 3.
Nuclear Weapons
By far the most catastrophic, nuclear weapons like Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) can cause immediate destruction and environmental collapse. Modern thermonuclear bombs are thousands of times more powerful than those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, meaning entire cities could be wiped out in seconds. But the fallout would be just as catastrophic, including long-lasting radiation, and a nuclear winter.
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Biological Weapons
Advancements in biotechnology have made biological warfare even more terrifying. These weapons use lab-modified pathogens to target specific populations, causing disease, pandemics and death. Biological weapons wouldn't just take lives however, they could overwhelm and cripple healthcare systems.
Chemical Weapons
Toxic substances like VX gas or Novichok nerve agents can paralyse and kill thousands with a drop. Even small-scale use of chemical weapons could cause mass panic and overwhelming casualties.
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Cyber Weapons
Cyber attacks can target a nation's infrastructure, like financial systems and water supplies without a single bullet being fired.
High-altitude nuclear detonations or Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attacks could wipe out power grids, shut down communications, and disable military defences. As many countries rely on technology, taking this away could isolate and ultimately destroy them.
Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs)
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Lasers and microwave weapons might sound too sci-fi for a World War, but they could very well play a part, according to AI.
These use focused energy to damage targets and disable things like electronics, vehicles, drones and aircraft with pinpoint precision. Microwave Weapons can also target people which can result in disrupted brain function and severe pain for the victims.
Hypersonic Missiles
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These missiles travel at speeds five times the speed of sound (Mach 5), making them extremely difficult to intercept. Since they fly unpredictably at extreme speeds, existing missile defence systems would struggle to stop them.
Autonomous Weapons
With the rise of AI technology, fully autonomous combat systems are closer to reality than ever. AI-driven drones or robotic combat systems could be used for targeted strikes - perhaps even capable of dogfighting and strategic bombing, ChatGPT noted.
Space Weapons
These out-of-this-world weapons can target satellites, disrupting global communications, navigation, and surveillance systems, which are critical in modern warfare. For instance, Kinetic Bombardment (or 'Rods from God') are tungsten rods dropped from space that could hit targets with the force of a nuclear explosion.
Scarily, if all these weapons were deployed in a full-scale global war, the consequences on Earth would be beyond catastrophic and the fallout would seem beyond repair.
If anything, this shows why world leaders must do everything possible to prevent large-scale conflict and the misuse of these world-wiping technologies.