South Korea plans to use artificial intelligence to assist local commanders make appropriate and timely decisions, a military source here said Monday. 

The source said the Ministry of Defense is working to establish an AI system by 2025 to help the decision making process at operational commands and it plans to distribute the system to local units after extensive field tests. Once the machine-assisted decision making system is set up and operational, military commanders will be able to use it as a sort of advisor.

The ministry's plan shows that the AI will have various data on North Korean military forces, including their locations, weapons and expected infiltration routes. In addition, information on South Korea's military forces will be also stored in AI, providing available firepower and effective range of weapons when combat situation occurs. 

The human-like algorithm will also have geographic and meteorological information on regions where North Korean military units are located.

"If we use AI in operational command decision making, military commanders will be able to get support in certain details that humans may overlook," the source said in condition of anonymity. "I think it's not going to take long to see AI being a core assistant to commanders."

Another military official confirmed South Korean military has already started a project on AI and the officials are working on how the self-thinking machine should provide answers to commanders' to meet various situations. (Yonhap)