Elon Musk and AI Experts Urge U.N. to Regulate Autonomous Weapons

Marin IvezicAugust 23, 2017

1 minute read

A prominent campaign spearheaded by Elon Musk, alongside 116 experts in robotics and artificial intelligence, is urging the United Nations to enforce stringent control over autonomous weapons. This group, comprising leading figures in the field, is voicing concerns about the potential dangers and ethical implications of these ‘killer robots’.

The initiative calls for the U.N. to take decisive action in overseeing the development and deployment of autonomous weapons systems. This move reflects growing apprehension within the scientific community about the unchecked advancement of AI in military applications.

The experts emphasize the need for international cooperation and regulation to prevent the potential misuse of AI in warfare. Their appeal to the U.N. highlights the urgency of addressing the ethical, legal, and humanitarian issues posed by autonomous weapons.

This campaign represents a significant step in the global discourse on AI and its role in future warfare, underscoring the necessity for proactive measures to ensure responsible and ethical use of AI technologies in military contexts.

The group’s call to action is a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining human oversight and ethical standards in the rapidly evolving field of AI and robotics, particularly in the context of global security and warfare.

The group’s open letter is available here: An Open Letter to the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

Marin Ivezic

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For 30+ years, I've been committed to protecting people, businesses, and the environment from the physical harm caused by cyber-kinetic threats, blending cybersecurity strategies and resilience and safety measures. Lately, my worries have grown due to the rapid, complex advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Having observed AI's progression for two decades and penned a book on its future, I see it as a unique and escalating threat, especially when applied to military systems, disinformation, or integrated into critical infrastructure like 5G networks or smart grids. More about me, and about Defence.AI.