Warfare

Abstract

What happens when artificial intelligence is given the power to make life-and-death decisions? Is it ever desirable for a machine to decide if a human lives or dies, and if so, what types of restrictions should be placed around weapons capable of making these decisions? In the international law context, these types of weapons are known as ``lethal autonomous weapons systems''---weapons that, after being turned on, select and engage targets without human intervention. These weapons represent one of the many difficult areas that have been upended by artificial intelligence. Accountability gaps, alignment with ``just'' war practices, and moral or ethical qualms with machines taking human lives are just a few of the headline issues in this area. This entry will provide an overview of lethal autonomous weapons systems and break down the discussion along technical and legal lines.