The Pentagon issued a directive in January 2023 outlining their policy on the development and use of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems, stating that they will be used in accordance with DOD AI Ethical Principles. However, the policy has been criticized for its shortcomings, including the allowance of international sales and transfers of autonomous weapons, and its failure to apply to other U.S. government agencies that may use such weapons. The Public Citizen report suggests that the U.S. pledge not to deploy autonomous weapons and support a global treaty to that effect.
Key takeaways:
- The U.S. Department of Defense and military contractors are focusing on incorporating AI into their technologies, particularly into weapon systems, raising concerns about the potential for autonomous weapons to operate and administer lethal force without human intervention.
- The Pentagon’s policies do not explicitly bar the deployment of autonomous weapons, also known as "killer robots," which critics argue could dehumanize targets and potentially violate international human rights law.
- There are concerns about accountability when autonomous weapons can make decisions or select targets without direct human input, particularly in cases of mistaken target selection that could potentially be classified as war crimes.
- The Public Citizen report suggests that the United States should pledge not to deploy autonomous weapons and support international efforts to negotiate a global treaty to that effect, but autonomous weapons are already being developed rapidly around the world, driven by geopolitical rivalries and the military-industrial complex.