Musk and the rest of the specialists — from a total of 26 different countries — sent an open letter to the UN explaining their position. Here’s what you need to know.
It Could Be a “Third Revolution in Warfare”
The Guardian has a widely cited rundown of the background behind the open letter. The problem with banning these lethal autonomous weapons is that, to some people, a third revolution in warfare isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s a Pandora’s box, as the letter itself says in a choice quote. […] Experts have previously warned that AI technology has reached a point where the deployment of autonomous weapons is feasible within years, rather than decades. While AI can be used to make the battlefield a safer place for military personnel, experts fear that offensive weapons that operate on their own would lower the threshold of going to battle and result in greater loss of human life.” The UK government opposed a ban on AI weapons back in 2015, claiming international laws already offered “sufficient regulation.” This new letter might have an affect on current policy negotiations, but it’s fighting an uphill battle.
