Louis A. Del Monte

War at the Speed of Light explores the ever-increasing and revolutionary role of directed-energy weapons in warfare, including laser, microwave, electromagnetic pulse (EMP), and cyberspace weapons. In addition, this book delineates the threat that directed-energy weapons pose to disrupting the doctrine of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction), which has kept the major powers of the world from engaging in nuclear war. Potential U.S. adversaries like China and Russia are developing and deploying supersonic and hypersonic missiles as a means to destroy U.S. aircraft, drones, missiles, aircraft carriers, and space-based assets, such as GPS and communication satellites. Currently, the United States has no defense against these missiles. In response, the U.S. Department of Defense established the "2018 National Security Strategy,” emphasizing directed-energy weapons. The rationale is simple: directed-energy weapons project devastation at the speed of light, making even a hypersonic missile a relatively easy target. Louis A. Del Monte breaks down how modern warfare is changing in three fundamental ways: the pace of war is quickening, the speed at which weapons project devastation is increasingly reaching the speed of light, and now cyberspace is officially a battlefield.These essential developments in warfare are part of the reason why the United States adopted the Third Offset Strategy, and that strategy now fuels the creation and deployment of even more weapons accelerating the pace of warfare to the speed of light. In fact, Brookings Institute in Washington DC has announced that this process moves so fast, a new term has been coined to embrace the speed at which war will be waged: hyperwar. It adequately describes the quickening pace of warfare resulting from the inclusion of artificial intelligence into command, control, decision-making, and weapons of war. Del Monte breaks down the meaning of this new term and showcases how disturbingly close the world is coming to being fully armed in nuclear warfare.

A technology expert describes the ever-increasing role of artificial intelligence in weapons development, the ethical dilemmas these weapons pose, and the potential threat to humanity. Artificial intelligence is playing an ever-increasing role in military weapon systems. Going beyond the bomb-carrying drones used in the Afghan war, the Pentagon is now in a race with China and Russia to develop "lethal autonomous weapon systems" (LAWS). In this eye-opening overview, a physicist, technology expert, and former Honeywell executive examines the advantages and the potential threats to humanity resulting from the deployment of completely autonomous weapon systems. Stressing the likelihood that these weapons will be available in the coming decades, the author raises key questions about how the world will be impacted. Though using robotic systems might lessen military casualties in a conflict, one major concern is: Should we allow machines to make life-and-death decisions in battle? Other areas of concern include the following: Who would be accountable for the actions of completely autonomous weapons--the programmer, the machine itself, or the country that deploys LAWS? When warfare becomes just a matter of technology, will war become more probable, edging humanity closer to annihilation? What if AI technology reaches a "singularity level" so that our weapons are controlled by an intelligence exceeding human intelligence? Using vivid scenarios that immerse the reader in the ethical dilemmas and existential threats posed by lethal autonomous weapon systems, the book reveals that the dystopian visions of such movies as The Terminator and I, Robot may become a frightening reality in the near future. The author concludes with concrete recommendations, founded in historical precedent, to control this new arms race.

Nanoweapons just might render humanity extinct in the near future-a notion that is frightening and shocking but potentially true. In Nanoweapons Louis A. Del Monte describes the most deadly generation of military weapons the world has ever encountered. With dimensions one-thousandth the diameter of a single strand of human hair, this technology threatens to eradicate humanity as it incites world governments to compete in the deadliest arms race ever. In his insightful and prescient account of this risky and radical technology, Del Monte predicts that nanoweapons will dominate the battlefield of the future and will help determine the superpowers of the twenty-first century. He traces the emergence of nanotechnology, discusses the current development of nanoweapons-such as the “mini-nuke,” which weighs five pounds and carries the power of one hundred tons of TNT-and offers concrete recommendations, founded in historical precedent, for controlling their proliferation and avoiding human annihilation. Most critically, Nanoweapons addresses the question: Will it be possible to develop, deploy, and use nanoweapons in warfare without rendering humanity extinct?

The Artificial Intelligence Revolution by Louis A. Del Monte is a warning regarding the threat new artificial intelligence (AI) technology poses to the survival of humankind. Will the future come down to man versus machine, when the singularity is near? Will an artificial intelligence robot be your friend or foe? Scientists are working relentlessly at improving AI technology for the benefit of man. Evolved technology is everywhere-smart TVs, smart phones, and even smart houses. One day the artificial intelligence of these machines will match our own intelligence-and one day it will exceed the "singularity." Then what? Will machines continue to serve us as the balance tips in their favor? These questions are addressed rigorously, their potentialities extrapolated for one reason-the survival of humankind. Are "strong" AI machines (SAMs) a new form of life? Should SAMs have rights? Do SAMs pose a threat to humankind? Del Monte and other AI experts predict that AI capabilities will develop into SAMs with abilities far beyond what human beings can even fathom. Will they serve us, or will SAMs take an entirely different viewpoint? That question and many more are tackled by Del Monte in this sobering look at the The Artificial Intelligence Revolution.