Armed drones and military robots have ‘limitless potential for disaster’: Experts fear we are being lulled into a false sense of security by autonomous machines
Autonomous weapons are increasingly prevalent in modern warfare
But security experts warn of a two-pronged threat for serious disaster
Limited subjective-decision making means humans must be in the frame
And the threat of cyber attacks from hackers will continue to loom large
By RYAN O’HARE
DailyMail.com
4 March 2016
Handing over more of the decision-making to machines may ease the human burden in warfare, but those in charge should be wary of being lulled into a false sense of security, warn experts.
They caution that autonomous machines – such as drones and or advanced guided missile systems – might not only make the wrong decisions, they could also be used against us by hackers.
Failing to address either of these aspects, they said, could generate an ‘almost limitless’ potential for disaster.
The stark warnings follow in the wake of a recent report from the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) that raised concerns of the decision-making ability of autonomous weapons systems, including drones.
The Autonomous Weapons and Operational Risk report, published earlier this week, was produced by former US Secretary of Defence official Paul Scharre.
Now, leading the CNAS’s programme on future warfare, Scharre questioned whether automation of weapons will lead to ‘robutopia or robocalpyse.’
The report highlights that while no state has officially confirmed plans to build fully autonomous weapons, ‘few countries have renounced them either.’
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