What happened
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has warned that the war in Ukraine could get worse due to rapid technological advancements. Schmidt, who is now CEO of rocket maker Relativity Space, stated that the rate of innovation in the war is faster than he has ever seen. He noted that Russia is becoming better at developing and deploying new weapons, eroding Ukraine's advantage.
The conflict has become a testing ground for drone warfare, with drones becoming the defining weapon of the war. Ukraine's new top general, Mykhailo Drapatyi, has prioritized innovation, saying the country must learn faster than the enemy on the battlefield. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also highlighted the need to intercept jet-powered Shahed drones.
Schmidt expects artificial intelligence to play a significant role in the war, potentially helping computers direct drone swarms. He warned that the fighting could develop into total war, with Ukrainians determined to resist due to fears of defeat destroying their families. Schmidt argued that Western countries should be doing more to learn from Ukraine's experience and help it respond.
