In the near future, engineers are going to have to figure out ways to prevent robots from killing. This is part of the broader work on the edges of lethal autonomous weapons systems, a proposed legal category that does not quite match the function of any weapons at present, but may soon encompass a range of machines.
In preparation for a diplomatic gathering where nations will debate how to govern or prohibit these systems, countries such as the United Kingdom are outlining how, specifically, humans will exercise meaningful control over the weapons they bring to war. The contours of this debate are political and legal; the execution will be largely up to the engineers.Read More…
