The Rise of Autonomous Weapon Systems: Implications for Warfare and Security

Autonomous weapon systems, driven by automation and artificial intelligence, are fast altering the nature of modern warfare and posing significant ethical problems as well as having an impact on how people make decisions during armed conflict. As technology develops, we are on the verge of a new era in which machines will be able to make crucial decisions and struggle in combat without direct human involvement. Ainun Nishat Chowdhury, a Research Assistant at BIPSS, explores the development and use of a variety of autonomous weapon systems, from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to ground-based autonomous robots, as well as the novel problems they pose for conventional ideas of warfare and ethical considerations.