Xi Calls for AI, Autonomous Tech in Defense Buildout

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- Xi Jinping called for more defense applications using autonomous and AI technologies, according to Chinese state media.
- The directive is part of Xi's broader push to build what state media described as an "advanced fighting force," linking AI capability directly to military modernization.
Why it matters: Xi is tying autonomous systems and artificial intelligence directly into China's military modernization effort, elevating them to stated requirements for the country's fighting force rather than supplementary tools. The framing comes via state media, signaling the call is being amplified as official policy direction.

