Latest news with #CIAE
The Star
a day ago
- Science
- The Star
China unveils world's first AI nuke inspector
Chinese scientists have developed an artificial intelligence system that can distinguish real nuclear warheads from decoys, marking the world's first AI-driven solution for arms control verification. The technology, disclosed in a peer-reviewed paper published in April by researchers with the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), could bolster Beijing's stance in stalled international disarmament talks while fuelling debate on the role of AI in managing weapons of mass destruction. The project, which is built on a protocol jointly proposed by Chinese and American scientists more than a decade ago, faced three monumental hurdles. These were – training and testing the AI using sensitive nuclear data (including real warhead specifications); convincing Chinese military leaders that the system would not leak tech secrets; and persuading sceptical nations, particularly the United States, to abandon Cold War-era verification methods. So far, only the first step has been cleared. 'Due to the classified nature of nuclear warheads and component designs, specific data cannot be disclosed here,' the CIAE team wrote in their Atomic Energy Science and Technology paper. The admission highlights the delicate balance between scientific transparency and inevitable opacity around nuclear arms control efforts. The AI verification protocol, dubbed 'Verification Technical Scheme for Deep Learning Algorithm Based on Interactive Zero Knowledge Protocol', employs a multiple-stage process blending cryptography and nuclear physics. Using Monte Carlo simulations, researchers generated millions of virtual nuclear components – some containing weapons-grade uranium, others disguised with lead or low-enriched materials. A many-layer deep learning network was trained on neutron flux patterns, achieving extremely high accuracy in distinguishing real warheads. To prevent the AI gaining direct access to top-secret nuclear weapon design, a 400-hole polythene wall was erected between the inspection system and real warhead, scrambling neutron signals and masking warhead geometries while allowing radiation signatures to pass. If inspectors and host nations engage in several rounds of randomised verification, deception odds can be reduced to nearly zero, according to the study. The system's linchpin lies in its ability to verify chain-reaction capability – the essence of nuclear weapons – without exposing design details. The AI knows nothing about the warhead's engineering, but it can still determine authenticity through partially obscured radiation signals. CIAE, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), serves as a critical research hub for nuclear weapons technology. Yu Min, a nuclear physicist from the institute, pioneered groundbreaking advancements in miniaturising China's nuclear arsenal, devising unique technical solutions that earned him the revered title of 'Father of China's Hydrogen Bomb'. The disclosure arrives amid frozen US-China nuclear negotiations. While US President Donald Trump repeatedly sought to restart talks, Beijing has resisted, citing disparities in arsenal sizes (China's estimated 600 warheads vs America's 3,748) and distrust of legacy verification methods. 'In nuclear warhead component verification for arms control, it is critical to ensure that sensitive weapon design information is not acquired by inspectors while maintaining verification effectiveness,' the CIAE team wrote. 'Current solutions primarily rely on information barrier methods developed by national laboratories in Britain, the United States and Russia. These barriers constitute complex automated systems that process highly classified measurement data during inspections, ultimately displaying only binary 'yes/no' results. 'However, such systems suffer from multiple drawbacks: their inherent complexity demands mutual trust between inspecting and inspected parties against hidden back doors, while excessive dependence on electronic systems creates vulnerabilities for potential exploitation of electronic/IT back doors to illicitly access sensitive information,' they added. To ensure thrust and transparency, the CIAE team said that the AI could be jointly coded, trained and verified by the inspecting and inspected party. Before testing the nuclear warheads, the AI deep learning software 'must be sealed', they said. The technology's unveiling coincides with heightened global anxiety over AI militarisation. While Washington and Beijing have jointly banned AI from nuclear launch decisions, the construction and deployment of large-scale smart defence infrastructure such as the Golden Dome proposed by the Trump administration would inevitably employ AI to guide or even control automated weapons to achieve quick response on a global scale. -- South China Morning Post
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
AI vs Nukes: How China's new tech could shake up global arms control
Chinese researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of distinguishing genuine nuclear warheads from decoys, marking the world's first AI-driven verification tool for arms control , according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). The breakthrough, detailed in a peer-reviewed paper published in April by scientists at the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), aims to enhance China's position in stalled international nuclear disarmament negotiations while sparking wider discussion about AI's role in managing weapons of mass destruction, the report said. The project, based on a verification protocol co-proposed by Chinese and American scientists over a decade ago, faced three major challenges: training the AI with sensitive nuclear data (including real warhead specifications), assuring Chinese military officials that the system would not compromise classified information, and convincing skeptical nations—particularly the United States—to move beyond Cold War-era verification methods. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trekking pants for mountain sports and adventure travel Trek Kit India Shop Now Undo As of now, only the first hurdle has been fully addressed, the report added. The CIAE researchers lso acknowledged in their paper published in Atomic Energy Science and Technology that, 'Due to the classified nature of nuclear warheads and component designs, specific data cannot be disclosed here.' This underscores the tension between scientific transparency and necessary secrecy in nuclear arms control. Live Events How this AI system works? Named the 'Verification Technical Scheme for Deep Learning Algorithm Based on Interactive Zero Knowledge Protocol,' the AI system employs a multi-stage approach combining cryptography and nuclear physics. Using Monte Carlo simulations, researchers created millions of virtual nuclear components—some containing weapons-grade uranium and others disguised with lead or low-enriched materials—to train a deep learning network on neutron flux patterns. The AI demonstrated extremely high accuracy in identifying authentic warheads, the report said. To prevent direct access to sensitive weapon designs, a 400-hole polythene wall was placed between the inspection apparatus and the warhead, scrambling neutron signals to mask detailed geometry while allowing radiation signatures through. Repeated randomized inspections can reduce the risk of deception to nearly zero. The core innovation lies in verifying a warhead's chain-reaction capability—critical for a nuclear weapon—without exposing design details. The AI operates blind to engineering specifics yet can authenticate warheads using obscured radiation data. China's nuclear legacy CIAE, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), is a pivotal research center in China's nuclear weapons program . Notably, nuclear physicist Yu Min from CIAE pioneered advancements in miniaturizing China's nuclear arsenal, earning the title 'Father of China's Hydrogen Bomb.' This technological revelation comes amid stalled US-China nuclear arms talks . While former US President Donald Trump sought renewed dialogue, China has resisted citing its smaller arsenal (estimated 600 warheads vs. America's 3,748) and distrust of traditional verification methods. The CIAE team emphasized, 'In nuclear warhead component verification for arms control, it is critical to ensure that sensitive weapon design information is not acquired by inspectors while maintaining verification effectiveness.' They noted that current systems—used by Britain, the US, and Russia—rely on complex information barriers, which pose challenges including mutual trust issues and vulnerabilities to electronic breaches. To ensure trust and transparency, the researchers propose that the AI system be jointly developed, trained, and verified by both inspecting and inspected parties, with the software sealed before use.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China unveils world's first AI nuke inspector
The technology , disclosed in a peer-reviewed paper published in April by researchers with the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), could bolster Beijing 's stance in stalled international disarmament talks while fuelling debate on the role of AI in managing weapons of mass destruction The project, which is built on a protocol jointly proposed by Chinese and American scientists more than a decade ago, faced three monumental hurdles. These were – training and testing the AI using sensitive nuclear data (including real warhead specifications); convincing Chinese military leaders that the system would not leak tech secrets; and persuading sceptical nations, particularly the United States , to abandon Cold War-era verification methods. So far, only the first step has been cleared. 'Due to the classified nature of nuclear warheads and component designs, specific data cannot be disclosed here,' the CIAE team wrote in their Atomic Energy Science and Technology paper.
