Highlights:
- Marc Andreessen and Elon Musk argue that AI-controlled jets outperform traditional crewed fighter jets.
- Drones offer greater speed and agility, with no human pilot constraints.
- The U.S. military is advancing AI-driven piloting, with AI-controlled aircraft already outperforming human pilots in simulated dogfights.
- Despite the rise of AI, experts stress the continued importance of human flexibility and judgment in certain missions.
- Silicon Valley’s growing interest in defense technology and the rise of military drones reshape the future of warfare.
The idea of AI-controlled jets outpacing traditional crewed fighter jets has gained significant traction, with tech industry leaders Marc Andreessen and Elon Musk both endorsing the notion. According to Andreessen, these AI-controlled jets are “far superior” to their human-piloted counterparts, offering speed and agility that their crewed versions cannot match.
In a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Andreessen explained that AI-controlled jets don’t carry the same limitations as human-piloted aircraft. One of the most significant advantages, he pointed out, is that without the need to keep a human pilot alive, these jets can move much faster and more efficiently.
“You don’t have the, as they say, the spam in the can,” Andreessen said, referring to the human body in the cockpit. He emphasized that AI-driven jets can be “a lot faster” and more agile because they don’t need to accommodate a person.
These comments echo sentiments expressed by Musk, who has been outspoken about the inefficiency of crewed fighter jets. Musk criticized the Pentagon’s F-35 program, suggesting that drones are far more efficient than fighter jets when it comes to extending the range of missiles or carrying out bombing missions.
He reiterated this point on X (formerly Twitter), claiming, “Fighter jets piloted by humans will be destroyed very quickly” in future wars, which will be dominated by drones and hypersonic missiles.
As both Andreessen and Musk point out, drones have already become a transformative force in modern warfare, especially in terms of speed and adaptability. The U.S. military is taking these predictions seriously, with both the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) investing heavily in AI piloting technology.
AI-controlled aircraft, including the F-16, have already been put to the test in simulated dogfights and have proven to outperform human pilots.
Military experts, however, caution against writing off crewed fighter jets just yet. While drones have changed the face of warfare, there are still areas where human flexibility and judgment are essential. Royal United Services Institute’s airpower analyst Justin Bronk explains that replicating a human pilot’s decision-making ability is challenging for automated systems. Mark Gunzinger, a retired U.S.
Air Force pilot, points out that drones currently lack the comprehensive bombing, surveillance, and communication capabilities of the F-35, which makes uncrewed aircraft unsuitable for certain mission types.
Despite these concerns, Silicon Valley’s growing interest in disrupting the defense industry is clear. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has publicly acknowledged his role as a “licensed arms dealer,” highlighting his work with Sebastian Thrun and Udacity to mass-produce drones for the war in Ukraine. The accelerator Y Combinator also made headlines when it backed its first weapons startup, Ares Industries, which aims to develop smaller and more affordable anti-ship missiles.
Musk’s recent appointment as a co-leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President-elect Donald Trump has only increased his influence on the defense sector. His advocacy for drone technology and military efficiency comes at a time when the Pentagon is facing scrutiny over its budget, with Musk and his co-leader, Vivek Ramaswamy, calling for greater transparency and accountability in military spending.
As the debate between AI-controlled jets and crewed aircraft continues, it’s clear that drones will play a pivotal role in the future of military operations. The rapid advancements in AI technology make it likely that uncrewed fighter jets will become a dominant force in warfare sooner rather than later. However, the ongoing conversation around the need for human pilots and the flexibility they offer suggests that the transition to fully autonomous combat aircraft may take time.
In the meantime, as both Andreessen and Musk have pointed out, the future of warfare will increasingly center around drones and the next generation of AI-controlled military technologies.