There are many questions that need answering before the Rise of The Machines becomes a horrifying reality. Science fiction is alarmingly close to becoming science fact.
Armageddon Scenarios
United Nations Calls For ‘Killer Robots’ To Be Outlawed
Angela Kane, High representative for disarmament at the United Nations, has called for ‘killer robots’ to be outlawed. She acknowledged that battlefield robots that can kill without human intervention are just a “small step” away. She said of the technology:
“Any weapon of war is terrible, and if you can launch this without human intervention, I think it’s even worse. It compounds the problem and dehumanises it in a way.
It becomes a faceless war and I think that’s really terrible and so to my mind I think it should be outlawed. The decision is really in the hands of the states who have the capability to develop them.”
Ms Kane favors a ban on battlefield use of autonomous robots, fearing that war crimes could be committed by the robots on the battlefield. Speaking to The Telegraph she said:
“There’s a great deal of concern about the increasing automation that’s going on in general. Just think about these self-driving cars that we hear are being tested on the roads. So that is only just a small step to develop weapons that are going to be activated without human intervention. Warfare in general is becoming increasingly automated.
The concern relates specifically to weapons that have the capability of selecting and also attacking targets without human intervention. Who has the responsibility and who has the liability? This is a really big issue in terms of how we are going about this.”
“…I personally believe that there cannot be a weapon that can be fired without human intervention. I do not believe that there should be a weapon, ever, that is not guided and where there is not the accountability clearly established by whoever takes that step to guide it or to launch it. I do not believe that we could have weapons that could be controlled by robots.” She added
Autonomous robots are the stuff of nightmares. Where would that autonomy stop? The massive technological developments in the field of artificial intelligence gives rise to the possibility of completely ‘humanless’ wars. Of fights for territory where the people move in when the robots have done their job in securing the area. What’s to say though that it stops there?
There are many questions that need answering before the Rise of The Machines becomes a horrifying reality. Science fiction is alarmingly close to becoming science fact.
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Contributed by Chris Carrington of The Daily Sheeple.
Chris Carrington is a writer, researcher and lecturer with a background in science, technology and environmental studies. Chris is an editor for The Daily Sheeple. Wake the flock up!
