International organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have called for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs), which they define as weapons capable of selecting and engaging targets without human intervention. The campaigners argue that these weapons would lower the threshold for war, increase the risk of unintended escalation, and could be used in ways that violate international humanitarian law..
LAWs, also known as autonomous weapons systems (AWSs) or killer robots, are currently being developed by several countries, including the United States, Russia, and China. These weapons would use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to identify and target enemy combatants without human oversight..
Supporters of LAWS argue that they could make warfare more precise and efficient and reduce civilian casualties. They also claim that LAWS could help to prevent human error and bias from leading to mistakes on the battlefield..
Opponents of LAWS, however, argue that these weapons would inevitably lead to a new arms race, as countries compete to develop the most advanced and deadly AI-powered weapons. They also worry that LAWS could be hacked or malfunction, leading to unintended consequences..
In addition to the ethical concerns, there are also legal concerns about the use of LAWS. The Geneva Conventions, which govern the conduct of armed conflict, require that humans maintain control over the use of force. It is unclear whether LAWS would be able to comply with these requirements..
The debate over LAWS is likely to continue for some time. As AI technology continues to develop, it will become increasingly important to find a way to regulate the use of these weapons..
**Key Points**.
* Lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs) are weapons capable of selecting and engaging targets without human intervention..
* International organizations have called for a ban on LAWS, arguing that they would lower the threshold for war, increase the risk of unintended escalation, and could be used in ways that violate international humanitarian law..
* Supporters of LAWS argue that they could make warfare more precise and efficient and reduce civilian casualties..
* Opponents of LAWS argue that these weapons would lead to a new arms race and could be hacked or malfunction, leading to unintended consequences..
* The debate over LAWS is likely to continue as AI technology continues to develop..
**Additional Resources**.
* [Human Rights Watch: Stop Killer Robots](https://www.hrw.org/arms/killer-robots).
* [The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots](https://www.stopkillerrobots.org/).
* [The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR): Lethal Autonomous Weapons](https://unidir.org/research/lethal-autonomous-weapons).
