3 ms·

I have just read the introduction, and it does seem that the author is looking far ahead, but I don't think it's too early to reflect on the ethical aspects of

by cedsav 19y ago

I have just read the introduction, and it does seem that the author is looking far ahead, but I don't think it's too early to reflect on the ethical aspects of lethal robots. Science moves faster than the field of ethics (e.g. cloning) and the US has already lethal robots on the battlefield. They are not autonomous yet, but we're certainly going there. When the robot 'assists' the decision by providing additional data (say an sensor detects a hidden weapon on an otherwise civilian-looking guy), it already skews the decision process. As the author mentions, there will be a point when the military will start to think that their robots are better at making the shoot/not shoot decisions...

ivankirigin 19y ago
That's not how the military works. At least for the next decade, humans will always be making the decisions. I know. I've met with people in the military about weaponizing robots. The real safety addition comes from software aided aiming and added situational awareness. Imaging trying to manipulate a gun remotely with lag, vs. just saying "fire" to an auto-tracking gun. It's a world of difference. But this is why I call it a "safety system". It has nothing to do with ethics. It's like that IR beam that makes sure your garage door doesn't close on someone. Useful, important, and nothing to do with ethics.