SCMP: China’s military parade in Beijing on September 3rd will also be a science parade 南華早報：9月3日北京的閱兵式也將是科學閱兵

Some photos have leaked from rehearsals for Beijing’s upcoming military parade. They reveal quite a few futuristic-looking weapons, which appear to be pushing the very edge of what human tech, science and industry can do.

If any of this military tech ever makes its way into civilian life, it could totally reshape how we live and work.

For instance, massive uncrewed submarines capable of crossing complex oceans to complete reconnaissance and strike missions on their own: the AI behind them isn’t just smart, it’s reliable.

And that’s a big deal, because right now, the types of AI we use every day – such as large language models or self-driving car systems – still make mistakes from time to time. They hallucinate, they get confused. But if we can crack that reliability problem, a lot of jobs could vanish overnight. Think about Uber drivers, translators – they could be obsolete in a decade.

Then there’s the YJ-19, the world’s first “air-breathing” hypersonic missile. It shows Chinese scientists have figured out how to keep fuel burning efficiently at speeds over Mach 5. That’s incredibly hard physics.

This breakthrough is as significant as the introduction of jet engines in fighter aircraft. If adapted for civilian use, it could reduce flight time between Shanghai and Los Angeles to just one or two hours.

An unassuming yet striking detail that has surprised many military experts is that soldiers piloting the new smart tanks were wearing XR glasses. Not bulky prototypes, but small, rugged goggles that work even in brutal battlefield conditions.

These devices suggest that the metaverse – a concept proposed years ago by Mark Zuckerberg and nearly forgotten now – is becoming a reality within the Chinese military. Given China’s formidable industrial design and manufacturing capabilities, consumer versions of such technology may already be in development.

When it hits the market, it could kick off a lifestyle revolution – something on a par with the rise of the smartphone. Buckle up.