I wonder if a mutually assured destruction scenario could emerge if we continue to escalate the use of drones, automation capabilities, and deadliness of the we

I wonder if a mutually assured destruction scenario could emerge if we continue to escalate the use of drones, automation capabilities, and deadliness of the weaponry that we automate? Given that actors who deploy automated or RC weaponry keep its own soldiers out of harm's way, it seems that the natural counter for other parties would be to develop its own such weaponry as a deterrent. The goal for each side then becomes to remove as many of its own humans from harm's way as possible. Thus, escalation may be inevitable and, at some point, it seems that various actors would have a bevy of such weaponry pointed at one another's human populations, as well as infrastructure.