Terrorists ‘Could Build Armies Of Killer Robots’, UN Warns
Terrorists could use ‘swarms’ of robots programmed to kill human beings - and it may be difficult to fight against them, the UN has warned.
Experts from around the world gathered in Geneva this year to discuss ‘Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems’ (LAWs) - robots which can decide to kill on their own, without human input.
Current drone systems will not shoot at targets without human intervention - but tech experts fear that governments will create new robot weapons which can act of their own accord.
The report warned that such systems could be a deadly weapon in the hands of terror groups.
The report said, ‘There may be no incentive for such actors to abide by international norms and this may further increase global or regional instability.’
‘Swarms of such systems with complementary capabilities may carry out attacks.’
‘In these scenarios where swarms of LAWS act as force multipliers, it would be unclear how meaningful human control could be maintained over the use of force, especially as the available time frame for human intervention is likely to be restricted.’
Last year, Stephen Hawking joined other technology experts such as PayPal’s Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak in calling for a ban on ‘offensive autonomous weapons’ - robot killing machines.
Professor Hawking and 1,000 other colleagues signed a letter presented at the opening of the 2015 International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The letter suggested that robotic killing machines similar to the drones used today could drive a ‘third revolution in warfare’.
