The dynamic improvement of modern technologies means the request to update legislation. A year after GPT is made available for global use, there is inactive a lively discussion on the regulation of artificial intelligence. Among the topics addressed again were the subject of autonomous weapons, especially in the light of fast advancement in the area of AI and the worrying planet of further armed conflicts.
In June 2023, the first always UN safety Council gathering was convened to address the risks and challenges of artificial intelligence.
Secretary-General António Guterres called on the associate States to draw up a binding study by the end of 2026 an act prohibiting the usage of autonomous weapons.
Among another things, during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, the First Committee (for Disarmament and global Security) examined concerning autonomous weapons Resolution L.56. akin papers have been rejected by the Committee for the last 10 years. This time the proposal was adopted by a majority.
The rebel Terminator or the inconspicuous drone?
"Lethal autonomous waapons systems" (LAWS abbreviation) means "autonomically lethal weapons systems" is another word for autonomous weapons. It is distinguished from conventional weapons by the anticipation of carrying out an attack without a human operator.
Although many thoughts about the armies of hostile humanoid robots prove to be more dangerous, e.g. conflict drones, so programmed to track and destruct a peculiar individual or representatives of a given group, are mentioned as independent weapons.
Autonomous weapons rise many ethical and humanitarian questions, problematic in the light of the content of the UN Charter or global humanitarian law, which, however, prove to be insufficient legal instruments in the face of fresh technological and militarisation solutions.
First UN Resolution on Autonomous Weapons
The authors of the paper stress the request to make fresh global arrangements and regulations on autonomous weapons.
The resolution itself does not contain details, alternatively it is simply a basis for future talks and actions. It shall require the Secretary-General to collect data in the applicable study on the positions of the individual associate States and the observer States on autonomous weapons. The paper is intended to take into account the voices of local and technological communities, at both global and regional levels. The LAWS agenda is expected to be included in the programme of the 79th session of the General Assembly in 2024, which gives hope for the continuation of the reopened debate.
First step and then what?
The resolution has no legal force. Voices given on November 1, 2023 are only a clue to research the temper for Proposals to restrict (or prohibit) the usage of autonomous weapons in different countries.
164 countries voted in favour of the resolution, 5 were against and 8 abstained. Among the opponents were Russia, Belarus, India.
The Russian website accused the applicants, among others, of overfocusing on the dangers arising from the usage of LAWS, with complete omission possible benefits, e.g. in the fight against terrorism.
The accomplishment of a consensus is besides inactive hampering the deficiency of a transparent definition for specified weapons. The government of any countries distinguishes "autonomic" systems from "fully autonomous" systems, which leaves a large gap in legal manipulation. another countries consider the ability of the strategy to adapt and learn utilizing artificial intelligence as a decisive criterion alternatively of the degree of control of weapons.
The way autonomous weapons are perceived and understood is not only crucial at political level. besides on social grounds, it is crucial to change the thought of "death-like robots", which are now no longer just a motive from the screenplay of discipline fiction, but are a real threat to global safety and political stability. A command worthy short movie sf „Slaughterbots” created within 1 of The Future of Life Institute projects.
Slaughterbots, screenThe action of the halt Killer Robots run launched in 2012, which presently brings together more than 250 social organisations from 70 countries, is besides peculiarly important.
The mission of the task is to guarantee human control over the usage of the force of technology. The members of the global halt Killer Robots movement item the request for fresh global law on autonomous weapons and fight the digital dehumanisation process (digital dehumanization).
Institute of civilian Affairs as the first and only organization in Poland joined the halt Killer Robots coalition.
The fight to guarantee that technology, alternatively of deciding life or death, serves people and does not reduce people to zero and only code is highly crucial in the age of information and artificial intelligence.
