Why Lethal autonomous weapon systems are unacceptable

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of some the issues concerning Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS), mostly with respect to the current state-of-the-art in the concerned areas of technology, but also — albeit to a somewhat lesser degree — in a more general context that will, perhaps, not be so easily invalidated by technological progress. When all is considered, the paper attempts to answer the question: "Why artificial intelligence should not be allowed to make decisions about killing human beings?" The authors are by no means refusing non-lethal autonomous systems, or remotely controlled (non-autonomous) weapons. They merely point to the fact that "lethal" and "autonomous" is not an acceptable combination.