EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Out of Hours Technology Killer robot ban proposed at UN meeting

An international agreement to ban ‘killer robots’ has been proposed by activists at a meeting organised by the United Nations.

The week-long gathering is the second of its kind this year at UN offices in Geneva to focus on futuristic weapons systems that could conduct war without human intervention.

The Convention of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), which is the UN body hosting the talks, has been criticised by some for moving too slowly as the technology required to make such machines advances quickly.

“Killer robots are no longer the stuff of science fiction,” Rasha Abdul Rahim, Amnesty International’s advisor on artificial intelligence and human rights, said in a statement.

“From artificially intelligent drones to automated guns that can choose their own targets, technological advances in weaponry are far outpacing international law,” she said.

“We are calling on states to take concrete steps to halt the spread of these dangerous weapons... before it is too late.”

Some countries are more receptive to a ban on the technology than others.

Killer robot ban proposed at UN meeting

" ... too late" (for what, I wonder)?

I hear that "they" are working on one that only targets "activists"; something like this, perhaps.

Meanwhile, wave goodbye to halogen lamps.

It looks like something from the 1980's movie Robocop.

Or the 1960's TV show "Lost in Space"!

"Danger, Will Robinson".

Anyone guess what the UK's military communication satellite system, initially launched in 1969, with its current (5th) incarnation launched in 2012 is called???

Er, Skynet?

You'd need to be familiar with The Terminator franchise, Geoff.

I think I'll pass on that, if you don't mind. Huw.

I have enough difficulty keeping up with the Real World; so I'm happy to leave the World of Make-Believe to *others.

* Or should that be "everyone else"?