Stuart Russell’s Post

Fascinating discussion. Definitely worth a read for anyone working in the field of Robotics and AI. Contains very interesting questions to ponder upon. #robotics #ai #ethics #safety

The 2023 UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Meeting of High Contracting Parties is scheduled for 15–17 November 2023 in Geneva. The agenda will include setting a mandate for the next Group of Governmental Experts on autonomous weapons.

In this commentary, Tejas Bharadwaj and Charukeshi Bhatt summarize India’s normative stance on lethal autonomous weapons systems at multilateral forums. Read: https://buff.ly/3wwGaFF

The push for a blanket ban on lethal autonomous weapons dominates current arms control discussions, yet key states remain hesitant to engage. This resistance challenges the effectiveness of an all-encompassing approach. Historically, arms control has been more successful when initiated through incremental steps. A practical starting point could be to agree on preventing the proliferation of autonomous weapons to non-state actors. This measure could serve as a foundational step, building consensus and trust among nations, and potentially paving the way for more extensive regulations in the future. Moreover, an approach based on small, incremental changes is particularly well-suited to the rapidly evolving field of autonomous weapons. It allows for adaptability and timely responses to technological advancements, ensuring that regulations remain relevant and effective. Incremental progress could be the key to meaningful and sustainable arms control in the era of autonomous weaponry. #AutonomousWeapons #DefensePolicy #ArmsControl

Great article, very thought provoking. I don’t think it’s a question of if, but when. Nation-states will start to view the AI race in the same vein as the nuclear arms race in the Cold War. Imagine the deterrence effect of one side posessing inferior hardware (ie China or Russia) but with superior (low cost) AI. A swarm of outdated AI-enabled (unmanned) Migs that can outsmart, outfly, and outshoot a fleet of human-operated 5th generation fighters. Then what??? What do we do? We need to lean forward now. I am all for restrictions but need to take an international view, starts with creating international ‘norms’. The US unilaterally restricting its use of AI in combat would be akin to the US unilaterally restricting itself on nukes, or worse, disarming itself during the height of the Cold War.

UNGA Resolution on Autonomous Weapons Systems Gives States Historic Opportunity to #VoteAgainstTheMachine. After 10 years of international discussions on autonomous weapons systems, states will have an historic opportunity to demonstrate commitment to progress through a resolution that will be tabled at the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly this October. The resolution marks the first time that an international vote will take place on the issue that will engage all UN member states. With mounting evidence of weapons with autonomous functionality being deployed in contemporary conflicts, states must act decisively and vote for the resolution to collectively address the serious risks such weapons pose to all of humanity. https://lnkd.in/gUFnki43

Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) represent a revolutionary shift in the landscape of military technology, standing at the intersection of advanced weaponry and artificial intelligence. These systems are characterised by their ability to operate independently, making critical decisions in combat without direct human intervention. This autonomy allows them to select and engage targets based on pre-programmed criteria using sophisticated algorithms and sensor technologies.

The DoD has the most rigorous weapons safety program in the world. I have been arguing since the first Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) meetings that we should immediately discuss what weapons safety testing is needed to satisfy the human control requirement. Arguing that we will ban LAWS only gives an advantage to those that don’t sign the treaties, as in Russia with landmines.

In the wake of an #AssassinationAttempt in the US and a horrendous war of aggression in Ukraine, we must voice opposition to the idea of #AI-driven fully automated weapons, where machines make "kill decisions" on their own. #war #futuretech #humanity #autonomousweapons #artificialintelligence #machinelearning