Avoid Marshal Foch’s Error Regarding AI | Correspondence

The recent article by Emma Brockes resonated deeply with me (It’s finally happened: I’m now worried about AI. And consulting ChatGPT did nothing to allay my fears, 8 April). Currently, I find myself engrossed in Marc Bloch’s *Strange Defeat*, a significant work where this esteemed French historian, who faced execution for his involvement in the resistance, offers a personal narrative surrounding the downfall of the French army during 1940. In his account, Bloch attributes this catastrophe partly to a notable failure of imagination within the ranks of the French general staff. They were unable to recognize that both technology and warfare had undergone profound transformations since the end of World War I in 1918.

Brockes’ reflections indicate that, much like the French leaders of that era, we too are grappling with a similar inability to comprehend the far-reaching implications of a technology that presently elicits a mix of fascination and apprehension. This same technology, currently viewed with a sense of humorous alarm, is poised to evolve in ways that could be significantly less entertaining. Reference to the future military applications of advanced technologies is reminiscent of how Marshal Ferdinand Foch dismissed aircraft as mere toys suited for hobbyists, devoid of serious military relevance, as recounted by Bloch.

In his writings, Bloch articulates the notion that the blitzkrieg tactics deployed in 1940 mirrored earlier French colonial conflicts, but with a critical twist: it was the French forces who, tragically, found themselves wielding primitive weaponry akin to bows and arrows. As we stand on the precipice of an era where artificial intelligence (AI) runs the risk of becoming unchecked, it’s a sobering thought to consider what this advanced technology might perceive our current capabilities—our “sticks and stones”—to be in just a decade or two. This thought stirs unease and compels us to reflect on our technological priorities.
Peregrine Rand
Paris, France

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