AI Gives the National Guard a New Mission

Ned Ludd was right. The revenge of the machines is now upon us, or soon will be according to the creators of AI. I will admit to being somewhat skeptical, hearing in Silicon Valley's warnings echoes of Y2K. As Y2K approached, I was often asked what I thought would happen. My answer was, "Nothing." That proved to be the case.

But the National Guard, as the guarantor of domestic tranquility, dares not make plans on the bet history will repeat itself. If AI does go to war with humanity, the Guard must be ready. What does that entail?

First, it means being able to disconnect vital public utilities, starting with cities' water systems, from the internet and, where necessary, providing back-up electric power. Most people can get by for some time without electricity or gas, but not without potable water. Gas would be second priority, especially in winter, then electric power. All these systems ran without the internet just a few decades ago, and the people who ran them then are mostly still alive. The Guard should be contacting them now, interviewing them, preparing to bring back those still able to work in a pinch, and having the knowledge of all of them on paper (not a screen). I presume the first thing AI will do in a war on people is take over the internet, so the Guard will have to be ready to make things work without it.

Second, the Guard should go now to the other institutions we depend on -- hospitals, supermarket chains, gas stations and the like -- and help them put plans in place for a situation where an enemy controls the Internet. Having plans, plans on paper not on the net, ready now will make things go a great deal smoother then. If it doesn't happen, not much is lost beyond some time. But if it does, the load on the Guard will be greatly reduced by planning beforehand.

Third, the Guard should plan now to take down the AI machines themselves. Friends who know about such things (I prefer machines powered by steam) tell me all you need to do is kill their air conditioning and they will fry themselves. If that is not enough and the machines must be physically destroyed, the Guard should be ready to do that. By moving to servers overseas the machines may still be able to control the internet, so the Guard must plan in everything for operating without it -- and so should everyone else. Be ready to unplug.

In her column last weekend in the Wall Street Journal, Peggy considered the AI threat and concluded by suggesting we be prepared to unplug AI. To hear from the other side, she asked her ChatGPT its reaction. It replied, "Maybe we'll unplug you." Guardsmen, be ready.