In 2022, multiple countries around the world are in war and unfortunately there is still no prospect of world peace. But with ongoing wars in times of technological inventions, new technologies change the game within the framework of designing new weapons.
Through Artificial intelligence, weapons are can be used without the necessity of human control. Lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) are weapons that use AI technology to locate a target, selects and then attacks the target. These weapons are also known as ‘killer robots’ or ‘slaughterbots’, as these weapons are able to execute these functions without the intervention of a single person (Okechukwu, 2021). In short, only a few lines of code in combination with some new sensors can make the decision between life or death. An examples of a lethal autonomous weapon system is a small drone with the size of a bird what is able to actively hunt out a specific individual and fires a small amount of explosives through that individuals head. These bird-sized drones operate autonomously and are too tiny and quick to be easily caught or eliminated (Lee, 2021).
Some of these weapons systems are supported by inexperienced, inaccurate technology, and it is unclear how the systems work and make choices. Eventually some of these LAWS will mistakenly mix up different persons or objects and will inevitably hit the wrong targets. Also competitive pressures will lead to the utilization of systems that are not carefully inspected and may not be ready to be used in warfare (Marijan, 2022). As AI technology integrates within military decision-making, people place to much dependency on these technologies, which influences military judgements and could lead to the worsening and escalation of conflicts.
The role of AI technology in warfare is difficult to define, as AI technology itself is just a specific software that can be separated from the design of weapons. Therefore, the laws considering the regulation of AI usage within warfare (both in terms of the factors that lead to war and how AI technology is used during warfare) are still being discussed (Araya, 2022).
Araya, D. (2022). AI Is Rpidly Transforming Warfare: New Rules Are Urgently Needed. Center for International Governance Innovation. Retrieved from: https://www.cigionline.org/articles/ai-is-rapidly-transforming-warfare-new-rules-are-urgently-needed/
Lee, K. (2021). The Third Revolution in Warfare. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/09/i-weapons-are-third-revolution-warfare/620013/
Marijn, B. (2022). AI-Influenced Weapons Need Better Regulation. Scientific American. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-influenced-weapons-need-better-regulation/
Okechukwu, J. (2021). Weapons powered by artificial intelligence pose a frontier risk and need to be regulated. World Economic Forum. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/06/the-accelerating-development-of-weapons-powered-by-artificial-risk-is-a-risk-to-humanity/
Such an interesting topic! We are a long way past traditional sword fights. The ethical implications of using AI technology in warfare are more relevant than ever. On the one hand, drones are saving lives by replacing humans in the battlefield, on the other hand, they are built to destroy and kill. AI technology in warfare creates a moral dilemma no different than the more famous trolley dilemma. Would you use a drone to kill a terrorist cell knowing that an innocent little boy might be killed as a result? Moreover, would a country follow regulations when boxed into a corner or will it increasingly make use of ‘killer robots’ (as they get cheaper and cheaper)? For instance, see autonomous and semi-autonomous drones used in recent conflicts in Ukraine or Ethiopia.
Hers ‘s an interesting article you might want to check out. https://www.npr.org/2022/07/30/1114024870/russia-ukraine-war-drones