Flawed AI-linked intel almost led U.S. to board China ship: report

The U.S. military came close to boarding a Chinese vessel in West Asia earlier this year based on a flawed intelligence report prepared with the help of artificial intelligence, CNN said Friday (September 19, 2026).

U.S. intelligence indicated the ship was carrying nuclear weapons-related components, leading American forces to prepare to intercept it, the broadcaster reported, citing four anonymous sources familiar with the incident.

But the operation was called off after officials determined that an AI chatbot used by an analyst had misidentified the material the ship was carrying.

CNN quoted one source as saying the intelligence report was "entirely false" but "almost started a war." It did not specify what the vessel was actually carrying or where it was bound.

U.S. Central Command — which is responsible for American forces in West Asia — did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported incident.