Artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the autonomous navigation and countermeasure capabilities of unmanned boats in the following ways, thereby improving their maritime combat capabilities: **Autonomous navigation:** 1. **Sensor fusion**: AI can integrate data from various sensors (such as radar, sonar, optical and infrared sensors) to achieve a panoramic understanding of the surrounding environment and detect and bypass obstacles. 2. **Machine learning algorithms**: AI can use machine learning algorithms to create detailed ocean maps based on environmental conditions, weather patterns and previous ocean data, predict water currents and optimize routes. 3. **Real-time path planning**: AI can re-plan routes and speeds based on changing conditions, such as wind, ocean currents and the movement of other ships to achieve the most efficient navigation. 4. **Target detection and tracking**: AI can detect and track other ships, submarines or underwater targets, using computer vision and machine learning to distinguish between friendly and enemy units. **Countermeasures:** 1. **Threat detection**: AI can detect and identify potential threats, such as missiles, torpedoes or mines, and trigger defense mechanisms to reduce or circumvent them. 2. **Electronic warfare**: AI can conduct electronic warfare in both active and passive ways to disrupt or deceive enemy sensors and communication systems. 3. **Autonomous avoidance**: AI can adjust the route and speed of unmanned boats in real time based on the location and movement of threat sources to minimize the risk of being detected or attacked. 4. **Rules of engagement decision-making**: AI can apply rules of engagement in complex and dynamic environments, enabling unmanned boats to make intelligent decisions to respond to enemy actions and prioritize self-protection. **Other potential applications:** 1. **Swarm effect**: AI can coordinate the actions of a group of unmanned boats to perform tasks such as regional surveillance or multi-point attacks, increasing overall effectiveness and difficult-to-defeat capabilities. 2. **Autonomous maintenance and repair**: AI can monitor the systems and components of unmanned boats, detect potential failures or damage, and trigger autonomous maintenance or repair procedures to ensure continued operation. 3. **Ocean maps and environmental intelligence**: AI can create and update ocean maps using multiple sensors and data sources to provide reference for detailed and comprehensive knowledge of the underwater environment, including ocean currents, water temperature, and seafloor topography. **Future Developments:** 1. **Integrated Perception Systems**: AI can integrate data from multiple sources, including satellite, atmospheric, and underwater sensors, to create a unified view of the environment and predict and respond to changing maritime conditions. 2. **Quantum Computing**: AI can harness the power of quantum computing to simulate complex maritime environments, optimize the performance of unmanned boats, and make smarter and more nuanced decisions. 3. **Cooperation and Interoperability**: AI can facilitate seamless interoperability between unmanned boats and human ships, drones, and other systems across different countries and services, enabling more effective and coordinated maritime operations. By integrating AI and machine learning technologies, unmanned boats can become a powerful asset in maritime operations. Their enhanced autonomous navigation and confrontation capabilities can significantly improve their survivability, protect crews and assets, and enhance overall naval capabilities.