April 12, 2018

Will killer robots save us or destroy humanity? | The Stream

A group of scientists is campaigning for a preemptive ban on autonomous weapons technology that may someday power what they call "killer robots”. Those who support the development of lethal autonomous weapons say using independently thinking machines could make wars more efficient and result in fewer civilian deaths, provided that the systems are programmed to make ethical decisions and follow international law.

With no international regulations and the world’s superpowers eagerly pursuing military uses for artificial intelligence, the primary concern is that humanity is headed toward a future where armies of autonomous robots will fight man's wars with limited human oversight. 


See this video and other offerings from Al-Jazeera here

  • Reports
    • May 28, 2025
    Atomic Advantage

    Executive Summary One of the most consequential national security contests now unfolds on battlefields invisible to the naked eye—across the faint radiofrequency signals of th...

    By Constanza M. Vidal Bustamante

  • Commentary
    • May 27, 2025
    Semiconductor Imports and U.S. National Security

    The Secretary of Commerce has initiated a Section 232 investigation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of semiconductors and semiconductor manufactur...

    By Geoffrey Gertz & Caleb Withers

  • Commentary
    • May 22, 2025
    Sharper: America’s Edge

    A volatile global security environment requires the United States and its allies to develop new tactics and capabilities to deal with novel global threats. On June 3, policyma...

    By Charles Horn

  • Commentary
    • May 20, 2025
    Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure on DOE Lands

    Maintaining America’s lead in AI data centers is critical for U.S. AI dominance....

    By Caleb Withers, Janet Egan & Spencer Michaels

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia