Autonomous killer robots are probably good news

Vincent C. Müller; Thomas W. Simpson

doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-480-0-297

Autonomous killer robots are probably good news

Vincent C. Müller
, Thomas W. Simpson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Will future lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) or 'killer robots', be a threat to humanity? In this policy paper, we argue that they do not take responsibility away from humans; in fact they increase the ability to hold humans accountable for war crimes. Also, using LAWS in war, as compared to a war without them, would probably make wars a bit less bad through an overall reduction of human suffering, especially in civilians. Finally, the availability of LAWS would probably not increase the probability of war or other lethal conflict-especially as compared to extant remote-controlled weapons. The European Parliament and a UN special rapporteur have called for a moratorium or ban of LAWS, supported by the vast majority of writers and campaigners on the issue. The 'Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention at the United Nations' are presently discussing such a ban. However, the main arguments in favour of a ban are unsound. We are afraid of killer robots, but we should not be: They are probably good news.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Sociable Robots and the Future of Social Relations - Proceedings of Robo-Philosophy 2014
Editors	Johanna Seibt, Marco Norskov, Raul Hakli
Publisher	IOS Press
Pages	297-305
Number of pages	9
ISBN (Electronic)	9781614994794
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-480-0-297
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2014
Externally published	Yes
Event	Robo-Philosophy 2014: Sociable Robots and the Future of Social Relations - Aarhus, Denmark Duration: 20 Aug 2014 → 23 Aug 2014

Publication series

Name	Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications
Volume	273
ISSN (Print)	0922-6389

Conference

Conference	Robo-Philosophy 2014: Sociable Robots and the Future of Social Relations
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Aarhus
Period	20/08/14 → 23/08/14

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

just war requirements
killer robots
LAWS
policy recommendations on autonomous wapons
responsibility
utility considerations

Access to Document

10.3233/978-1-61499-480-0-297

Cite this

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Müller, VC & Simpson, TW 2014, Autonomous killer robots are probably good news. in J Seibt, M Norskov & R Hakli (eds), Sociable Robots and the Future of Social Relations - Proceedings of Robo-Philosophy 2014. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications, vol. 273, IOS Press, pp. 297-305, Robo-Philosophy 2014: Sociable Robots and the Future of Social Relations, Aarhus, Denmark, 20/08/14. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-480-0-297

Autonomous killer robots are probably good news. / Müller, Vincent C.; Simpson, Thomas W.
Sociable Robots and the Future of Social Relations - Proceedings of Robo-Philosophy 2014. ed. / Johanna Seibt; Marco Norskov; Raul Hakli. IOS Press, 2014. p. 297-305 (Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications; Vol. 273).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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ER -

Autonomous killer robots are probably good news

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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