Weapons Systems That Kill According To Algorithms Are Coming. What To Do? 514
Lasrick writes "Mark Gubrud has another great piece exploring the slippery slope we seem to be traveling down when it comes to autonomous weapons systems: Quote: 'Autonomous weapons are robotic systems that, once activated, can select and engage targets without further intervention by a human operator. Advances in computer technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics may lead to a vast expansion in the development and use of such weapons in the near future. Public opinion runs strongly against killer robots. But many of the same claims that propelled the Cold War are being recycled to justify the pursuit of a nascent robotic arms race. Autonomous weapons could be militarily potent and therefore pose a great threat.'"
Re:We already have mines (Score:4, Informative)
Most of the world has illegalized mines, with the exception of America. I wonder if the Geneva conventions were being drawn up now, the Americans would boycott them?
Re:Skynet (Score:1, Informative)
I don't even believe fever deaths and fever deaths of "non-combatants" is a good thing. US will just start using these more, because they can claim this time they really only killed terrorits, honest, there really is no need for a trial, we will just execute them, and they were guilty because our hunter-killers said so. Don't like our opinion? That's terrorists speak, expect a killer drone behind you, anytime, anywhere. I just don't think the world will reply in a positive way. These things also make it possible to fight your own citizens the way military doesn't. The robots don't have family among the people they are ordered to kill, they don't think if it's right to kill people in their own country, and maybe we should settle disputes in some other way, they just kill. Enough of these, and there will be no more need for rulers to hide behing democracy. It will happen, you know it.