Markus Wagner, a Published Author and Associate Professor of Law at the University of Wollongong based in Australia participates in Risk Roundup to discuss Autonomous Weapons System and Law. Can Law Regulate Autonomous Weapons System Effectively? As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are rapidly entering the hi-tech warfare battleground in cyberspace, geospace and space... The post Can Law Regulate Autonomous Weapons System? appeared first on Risk Group.
Markus Wagner, a Published Author and Associate Professor of Law at the University of Wollongong based in Australia participates in Risk Roundup to discuss Autonomous Weapons System and Law.
Can Law Regulate Autonomous Weapons System Effectively?
As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are rapidly entering the hi-tech warfare battleground in cyberspace, geospace and space (CGS), autonomous weapons system (AWS) are revolutionizing warfare and becoming a terrifying global reality for the future of human life.
Autonomous Weapons System and Law
From across nations, reports are already emerging of complex algorithmic systems support numerous aspects of war-fighting including in:
* navigating and utilizing unmanned naval, aerial and terrain vehicles* producing collateral damage estimations * tracking and deploying missile systems * locating enemy radar signals* automating everything from personnel systems and equipment maintenance to the deployment of surveillance drones, robots and more
As autonomous weapons system progresses rapidly and are now within reach of many human decision makers, the reality today is that artificial intelligence is leading us toward a new revolutionary battlefield that has no boundaries or borders, may or may not have humans involved, has many unknowns and will be impossible to understand and perhaps control by humans in the coming years.
The very idea of weaponization and use of lethal artificial intelligence seems to be a highly dangerous and destabilizing development as it brings complex security risks for each nation’s human decision makers at all levels. The emerging practice and positioning of autonomous weapons system would alter the very meaning to be a human and will in no uncertain terms alter the very fundamentals of security and future of humanity.
In the absence of effective leadership, as further weaponization of artificial intelligence is inevitable, it is important to understand and evaluate:
* is it even possible to prevent a lethal autonomous weapons arms race? Â * if we cannot prevent autonomous arms race, what could go wrong and what is at risk?* is there any binding international law against AWS actions that would violate the fundamental security principles of humanity?* What can be done to protect the future of humanity and human life?
It seems the legality of autonomous weapon systems under existing international law is a rapidly growing security risk as technology advances and intelligent machines acquire the capacity to operate without human control in cyberspace, geospace and space. It is important to understand that just because advances in technology may allow for the successful development of autonomous weapons system does not mean that we should. As we debate whether international law should permit unrestricted use of autonomous weapons system, we are perhaps reaching a point of no return. Now is the time to talk about the lawfulness of taking humans out of the loop during lethal targeting of autonomous weapons systems and whether law can effectively regulate autonomous weapon system.
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About the Guest
Associate Professor Wagner teaches and writes on international law. His recent scholarship has focused on the development of autonomous...