Search: robots
30 May Pentagon Concludes Cyber Attack Can Be Act of War
The Wall Street Journal reporting on un-classifed portions of a report anticipated for release next month. I concentrate on robots, not cyber, so I leave it to others to comment, but I do recall that this report and its conclusions have been discussed a fair amount in academic circles, and as far as I know this will not surprise people following those discussions. (Here’s a good new piece on the topic from Matthew Waxman, in YJIL) Though this is not my speciality, I wanted to flag it for people’s attention....03 Jan Some Thoughts on Negotiating a Treaty on Autonomous Weapon Systems
...informative discussion had run its course, and that the time was right to proceed with a more formal mandate, to “explore and agree on possible recommendations on options related to emerging technologies in the area of LAWS”. Once confirmed, this raised expectations amongst some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that a ban on ‘killer robots’ may follow. However, as other commentators noted at the time, the formal mandate made no reference to negotiating a LAWS treaty, and this was clearly a result of divergent views within the CCW’s membership over how best...21 Feb The Ethics and Economics of Asteroid Mining (and the Role for Law)
...the economies of resource-exporting nations. What would happen to most of Africa? What would it do to the cost of iron ore? And what about refining and manufacturing? If we spend the money to harvest iron in space, why not outsource the other related processes as well? Imagine a future in which solar-powered robots toil in lunar or orbital factories. “On the one hand, it’s great,” Brother Consolmango said. “You’ve now taken all of this dirty industry off the surface of the Earth. On the other hand, you’ve put a...27 Mar PW Singer’s Wired for War Discussion at CTLab
...certain firing decisions, rather than an emotionless computer might be regarded as a possible war crime. It is a profound mistake to pre-judge the humanitarian possibilities created in the future by technology. That is about autonomy, but it is still well down the road. The more immediate reason why robotics is important to OJ discussions is that it is not just about sci-fi autonomous robots. It is about other issues that are taking place on the battlefield now, and transforming it in all the ways that Singer discusses so well....
08 May New Technologies Symposium: Autonomous Weapons Systems– Why Keeping a ‘Human On the Loop’ Is Not Enough
...(159) In sum, Boothby provides a highly interesting conceptual framework within which autonomous weapons systems should be regulated. His argument pushes contemporary debates forward by finding a plausible middle ground between those advocating a strict ban on ‘killer robots’, and those (few) who seem to have unlimited confidence in this type of technology. Nevertheless, I believe there is still more work to do before concluding that a human on the loop will make the employment of autonomous weapons systems safe enough to be used both in armed conflict and in...
25 Jan International Law’s Invisible Frames Symposium: Inter-Temporality, Legal Fictions and Wartime Emotions in the Investigation of International Humanitarian Law Violations
...stronger in recent times is provided by artificial intelligence and lethal autonomous weapons systems. Many argue that, by removing human emotions such as anger or fear, killer robots seem to be more ready to engage in hostilities without the possibility of making mistakes. The absence of any emotional experience would allow, according to this position, for an unbiased participation in hostilities. But this, of course, is not clear, since the absence of combatant decision-making ends up de-humanising the conduct of hostilities and reducing war to a cold and inexpressive algorithm....15 Nov Genocide and Battlestar Galactica
...policeman bides his time, and then, as she draws closer to him, he whispers to his dead wife—murdered by the occupiers—that he’ll see her soon. His thumb presses the detonator, and the ceremony is ripped apart, along with a sense of security and optimism for the occupying power. If this sounds like Iraq, it should. But it’s the season premiere of Battlestar: Galactica, the Sci Fi Channel’s acclaimed remake of the kitschy Star Trek also-ran. In its previous two seasons, Battlestar has hinted at war-on-terrorism overtones. The evil Cylon robots...12 Jan Space Law Update – US Won’t Build Death Star, Also Does Not Support Blowing Up Planets
...White House site, which I haven’t included). It is more substantive than one might have anticipated – it discusses private space flight initiatives, the International Space Station and – naturally! – robots. Update: Response from the Air Force General Counsel’s Twitter feed (and I recommend both the Twitter feed (@AirForceGC) and blog: Air Force GC @ AirForceGC Still smarting from Death Star decision, but must admit weapons review would have been a bear. Referring to US legal requirements for a review of the legality of all weapons systems, meeting the...
03 Nov Third Annual Symposium on Pop Culture and International Law: When Toasters Commit Genocide – Law, Public Institutions, and Society Under Threat of Extinction
...…[the show] reduced humanity to its essentials’. This is evident in the show’s premise. BSG focuses on the 50,000 human survivors of a surprise genocide launched by intelligent robots, known as Cylons. These remaining humans are protected by a military ship, the eponymous Battlestar Galactica. The Moore/Eick reboot began with a mini-series which aired in 2003 and depicted the Cylon attack and humanity’s initial responses to it. Season One of BSG focuses on the flight of the civilian fleet, protected by the Galactica, from Cylon pursuit (who are intent on...27 Dec Foreign Policy: “The Top 10 Stories You Missed in 2007”
...the robo-warriors, FP brings you the Top Ten Stories You Missed in 2007. Here’s the list itself; go to Foreign Policy for the full-text explanations: 1. The Cyber Wars Begin 2. U.S.-Mexico Border Fence Gets Cut in Half 3. Dear Osama: We’re Breaking Up 4. Waiting on the Iraqi Navy 5. The Cubans Are Coming 6. The American Heartland Grows Crops—With Human Proteins 7. Thai Junta Gives Itself A Raise 8. Dengue Fever Runs High 9. American Jews Turn Away From Israel 10. Armed Robots Take the Field in Iraq...