On AI weapons

Abstract

This essay reviews the risks and upsides of lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs) by examining ethical, legal, and other concerns about AI weapons presented by critics, and providing a comprehensive analysis that considers the potential impact on military conflict, soldier safety, international relations, and domestic security. The author ultimately concludes that there is not a compelling reason to oppose LAWS at this time, and that in fact, LAWS may offer more benefits than risks. The discussion of AI weapons presented by critics are based on dubious ideologies that view humans as superior to machines, and that place too much emphasis on accidents and moral dilemmas, rather than the real-world issue of who will control them in a domestic power struggle. – AI-generated abstract.