An AI error nearly caused a clash between the US and China

US armed forces came close to intercepting a Chinese ship in the Middle East last spring, acting on information that later proved false. That is according to CNN, which cites four anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

According to the account, US intelligence services had reported that the vessel was carrying components linked to nuclear weapons. The report led the military to prepare to board the ship. The operation was later called off, after it emerged that the alarm stemmed from an error by an artificial-intelligence-based chatbot, which had been used to process the intelligence report.

One of the sources cited by CNN described the report as "del tutto falso" (completely false), adding that it had "rischiato di scatenare una guerra" (risked triggering a war). CNN did not specify what the ship was actually carrying, or where it was heading.

A separate case involving F-35 parts

The disclosure comes as warnings grow over the risks of using artificial intelligence in sensitive areas. US President Donald Trump and several members of his majority continue to reject regulating the sector, arguing that rules would leave the United States lagging behind China.

Still on the relationship between the two countries, Politico reported a separate case involving components for F-35 fighter jets. Several parts, shipped from Australia to the United States for repairs, are reported to have been diverted to Hong Kong and are now unaccounted for. The episode raises concerns that China may have gained access to sensitive US military technology.

The reasons for the diversion and the current location of the components remain unknown, according to Politico. A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin, which manages the F-35 supply chain, declined to give details about the shipment for security reasons, but said the company complies with all US regulations governing the shipment of aircraft components.

On Friday, President Trump announced he intends to bar several media outlets, including CNN and Politico, from the White House. He justified the decision by citing what he called permanently false coverage, without specifying which reports he considered false.