What could China use its new robot ship controlled by artificial intelligence for? China is launching the first ship in the world that can navigate the open waters on its own with the help of artificial intelligence. Beijing officially called it a tool for marine research. However, some experts said the ship could also be used as a military vessel. The Zhu Hai Yun, about 88 meters long, 13 m wide, and 6 m in depth, could be carrying a dozen air, sea, and diving drones equipped with various monitoring devices, according to the ship's manufacturer, CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipping Co.