Killer robots 1

Despite having read and written about AI (artificial intelligence), I wasn't familiar with the idea of  killer robots. But they are fully autonomous weapons, maybe drones. They are not controlled by human operators, but rather by their programming to identify and attack targets.

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Fear and concern inspired an organization called "Campaign to Stop Killer Robots," and Human Rights Watch is its global coordinator. They're worried about a worldwide arms race to acquire the ability to wage war with these things.

"As machines, they would lack the inherently human characteristics such as compassion that are necessary to make complex ethical choices."

Furthermore, "replacing troops with machines could make the decision to go to war easier."

Their solution: "The development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons must be banned."

(cont'd tomorrow)