Latest news with #AIdrones
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Thailand's Pattaya deploys AI drones as cries grow to tackle crime in tourist hotspot
A city in Thailand plans to deploy AI-powered police drones to hunt down criminals and visa overstayers amid growing concerns over public safety. Authorities in Pattaya want to link the drones to a centralised AI database so they can scan faces in crowds and pick out individuals with outstanding arrest warrants or expired visas, according to local media outlet The Thaiger. The drones will be used during large-scale local events and in tourist hotspots to monitor activities and respond to suspicious behaviour in real time. Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngampichet discussed the plan on Monday during a meeting with Police Lieutenant Colonel Torlap Tinamat, chief of the city's tourist police. Pattaya, a city about 150km (93 miles) southeast of the Thai capital of Bangkok, is a popular tourist destination. 'This initiative will boost Pattaya's image as a safe and welcoming place for visitors and locals,' Poramese said.
South China Morning Post
06-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
US tests AI-driven combat drones as it competes with China to develop ‘loyal wingmen'
The US Air Force has started ground tests of its new AI-driven combat drones , intensifying its technological rivalry with China as the two countries race to develop unmanned weapons systems that can work alongside crewed aircraft. Advertisement The US Air Force announced on Thursday that trials for the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A drones, developed by US-based defence firms General Atomics and Anduril respectively, had started. The prototypes are the first unmanned aircraft in US military history to receive fighter designations. Anduril specialises in AI-driven autonomous systems, while General Atomics is best known for the MQ-9 Reaper drone , which can carry out multi-mission intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. General David Allvin, the US Air Force chief of staff, described the tests as a significant milestone for the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) programme. The programme, which features next-generation uncrewed aircraft that can fly alongside crewed fighter jets, reflects a strategic shift towards autonomous aerial warfare, according to the US Air Force. Advertisement 'This phase bridges the gap between design and flight, reducing integration risks, boosting confidence and laying the groundwork for a successful first flight and eventual fielding to the warfighter,' Allvin said.
