About whether AI can replace human fighter pilots, after a pilot ejected from an F-35.
Has this happened?
Yes 19 (15%)Not sure 40 (32%)No 67 (53%)
Votes cast 1–2 October 2026: 100,590 votes from 9,694 people.
Hacker News has set AI a lot of challenges over the years. Which ones has it met?
About whether AI can replace human fighter pilots, after a pilot ejected from an F-35.
Votes cast 1–2 October 2026: 100,590 votes from 9,694 people.
Nonsense. AI can work well enough for striking certain known targets. But it is simply not capable of following complex rules of engagement or adapting to highly dynamic situations in real time. We are at least decades away from that capability in a general sense. What you see in movies is not reality.
Sixth-generation tactical aircraft (the successors to the F-35) are likely to be optionally manned. They will be able to operate with remote pilots and/or autonomous control for high risk strike missions but most of the time will still have human crews on board.