We must oppose lethal autonomous weapons systems

Abstract

As advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) continue at an ever-increasing rate, there are growing concerns over the potential development of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), commonly known as ‘killer robots’.1 Such systems are defined as any weapon capable of targeting and initiating the use of potentially lethal force without direct human supervision and direct human involvement in lethal decision making.2 Several countries, including the UK, are developing these weapons for military use, setting the stage for an imminent arms race. The emergence of these technologies would represent the complete automation of lethal harm, which AI experts fear would mark a third revolution in warfare, following gunpowder and nuclear weapons.3 LAWS would radically violate the ethical principles and moral code that are integral to our profession, necessitating urgent and collective action from the entire healthcare community. The prospect of a world with LAWS generates ethical, legal, and diplomatic apprehensions. These technologies would bring dire humanitarian consequences and geopolitical destabilisation. They would make possible the …

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