New Delhi, September 4: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat today stressed the importance of info warfare in modern war techniques. Gen Rawat also highlighted the importance of using social media for taking advantage of artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at an event, he said, “In modern day warfare, info warfare is important, and within it, we've started talking about artificial intelligence. If we have to leverage AI to our advantage we must engage through social media as a lot of what we wish to gain as part of AI will come via social media.”

Gen Rawat also advocated the use of smart-phones by soldiers but in a regulated way. He said that the usage of smart-phones could not be prevented, but discipline should be followed. He said, “We have received advice that we should advise our soldiers to stay away from social media. Can you deny a soldier from the possession of a smart-phone. If you can't prevent usage of smartphone, best to allow it, but important to have means of imposing discipline.”

The army chief even suggested soldiers use social media to their advantage as it is not possible to stay away from it. He said, “Social media is here to stay, soldiers will use social media.  Our adversary will use social media for psychological warfare and deception, we must leverage it to our advantage.”

In the last couple of years, various incidents surfaced on social media where soldiers could be seen complaining about various facilities provided to them. Yesterday, while addressing colonel-level officers in New Delhi, Gen Rawat also questioned the need of serving army soldiers filing cases in their individual capacity in the Supreme Court challenging any dilution of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2018 11:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).