"This AI-Controlled Jet Fighter Has Now Flown Against Human Pilots"

DARPA recently announced that an AI test pilot has successfully flown a jet fighter in dogfights against human opponents. It's the latest development for DARPA's Air Combat Evaluation program, which is trying to develop aerospace AI agents that can be trusted to perform safely. The USAF and DARPA started conducting X-62A test flights under AI control in December 2022, logging 17 hours by the time the program was announced in early 2023. Although DARPA's AI agent flew the X-62A, there was always a pair of human pilots onboard to monitor the test flight and, if necessary, take control. In those early tests, the X-62A flew against simulated adversaries. By September 2023, the program had completed 21 test flights, including the first-ever AI versus human aerial engagement within visual range, flying against a human-piloted F-16. During that time, DARPA noted that the team made over 100,000 lines of flight-critical software changes, which it called "an unprecedented rate of development."  

Ars Technica reports: "This AI-Controlled Jet Fighter Has Now Flown Against Human Pilots"