There are two main functions of let's call them "modern" autonomous weapons, if you're going to expand the definition of autonomous weapons that much: 1) the d

There are two main functions of let's call them "modern" autonomous weapons, if you're going to expand the definition of autonomous weapons that much: 1) the decision to kill is not made by a human 2) the cost plummets so much that in the leaders' minds it starts to make sense to send one after almost everyone they want gone for whatever reason (just like it's already happening with drone strikes. It used to be that air strikes were mainly used in active war/conflict. Now it's more of a pervasive "they are always there" situation).