AI and Autonomous Weapons: Possible Futures or Impossible Dreams? ⚖️

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Halp2001

Halp2001

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Prologue
Human history has always been marked by a dilemma: every new tool we invent can be used to build… or to destroy. Gunpowder, aviation, nuclear energy—all were born with promises of progress, but first found their place on the battlefield. Today, Artificial Intelligence is approaching that same crossroads.

What will happen if we let machines decide over life and death? Here are three potential scenarios for the year 2042:

🌑​

  • Reality: Early deployment without human oversight and an arms race without regulation.
  • The Moment: A civilian convoy is misidentified by autonomous drones. The attack happens in seconds. Rival systems react automatically, and in less than an hour, humans are mere spectators of a retaliatory war that no one intended to start.

⚖️​

  • Reality: Incomplete regional treaties. Some powers regulate, while others do not.
  • The Moment: An officer approves an attack "recommended" by AI. The convoy was military, but on another front, a calculation error causes civilian casualties. Peace holds, but it exists under the shadow of algorithms that decide too much.

🌅​

  • Reality: "Meaningful human control" becomes a binding global standard (UN).
  • The Moment: A swarm of drones recommends an attack, but a human officer reviews the evidence, realizes it is humanitarian aid, and cancels the action. Technology assists, but humans have the final word.

Question for the community:​

These three scenarios are mirrors of our current decisions. Looking at today’s geopolitical landscape...

Which of these futures do you think is most likely? Are we in time to avoid the 🌑 scenario?
 
Sorrento said:
A quote from Star Trek Enterprise, (one of my favorites) Episode 'Carbon Creek' regarding human behavior:

Vulcan: 'Open your eyes. They revel in violence. They devote what little technology they have to devising ways of killing each other'

I agree with that stance :)
Click to expand...
Effective at killing and spying. I can still only hope it doesnt become net negative for humanity somehow.
 
16 years ago, this was a sci-fi movie.



Today, it is a reality.



www.policingproject.org

How Policing Agencies Use AI — The Policing Project

This explainer gives an overview of some of the ways police are using AI to investigate and deter crime.
www.policingproject.org www.policingproject.org

AI is yet another nail into our coffin alongside of WMDs, poisonous and nutrients depleted food, environment changes, etc. AI taking water and electricity is just a bonus.
Technology was supposed to make our lives better, instead it is slowly killing us (microplastics) and it made us heartless, we lost the connection with nature and each other.
 
Video games have predominantly involved gamers killing others or each other. So, at least for young people, Elysium style robots will not be a thing. They will probably like it.

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Based on historical arms adoption and current data streams, the most probable future is the (Incomplete Regional Treaties) scenario. Geopolitical competitors rarely achieve unanimous, binding consensus on emerging asymmetric military technology prior to deployment. Conversely, mutual deterrence and self-preservation typically prevent total, unmitigated automated escalation. The operational reality will likely be a fragmented landscape where AI dictates tactical recommendations under the nominal, often rubber-stamped, guise of human authority.
 
As you stated in the prologue, the user is the issue rather than the tool.

Artificial intelligence, in my opinion, was created to fulfill the systems' need for someone to carry out their commands without considering, debating, or having a conscience. No matter how cruel people are, I think their consciences can awaken one day and defy expectations. This is what happened in Western nations, for instance, when protests in support of the Palestinian cause took place.

Take a look at how the military is taught all over the world; they are trained like mindless hunting dogs. I believe that this is what the systems want from the advancement of artificial intelligence. In this manner, they can fulfill their malevolent ambitions without having to pay for social security, retirement benefits, salaries, and other expenses.

Regretfully, the first scenario has already been put into practice in Gaza, where the AI in charge of the combat drones was given information indicating that the enemy is "anyone who moves," resulting in 400 casualties on some days. It was more akin to the Squid Game.
 
I think we will be OK in the end like always, everyone is a doom merchant saying A.I will turn into Skynet and the Terminators will kill us all.

Humanity has always adapted to new technology, yes there are problems and issues but we always work it out.

Much more likely A.I. and robots will just turn into another way to push advertising towards using forcing them to buy the new George Forman grill, Fleshlights or buy Ozempic.

The biggest problem is what are people going to do without full time paid jobs? The bloodbath is well under way in I.T and banking/finance and won't stop there.
 

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