UN Starts Talks on 'Killer Robots'

[11B4V]

and Timay rejoices.

UN Starts Talks on 'Killer Robots'
Rights groups worried about machines programmed to kill


(Newser) – It sounds like a panel discussion worthy of Comic Con, but this four-day summit on "lethal autonomous robots" is instead taking place under the auspices of the UN Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva, reports AFP. The premise is simple enough: Groups such as Human Rights Watch are worried that nations will begin deploying killer robots in the not-too-distant future to indiscriminately kill humans, and they want to get moratoriums in place to stop their development, reports al-Jazeera America.

"We don't see how these inanimate machines could understand or respect the value of life, yet they would have the power to determine when to take it away," says one arms expert for Human Rights Watch. "The only answer is a preemptive ban on fully autonomous weapons." Early versions of such machines are already surfacing. Drones are close, but humans still decide when and where they kill, notes the Verge. Critics are worried that drones or similar machines of the future wouldn't have such restrictions. The story points out that South Korea already uses sentry robots that can be programmed to shoot intruders who don't know the right password. The summit that begins today is seen as the first step toward a international rules.

http://www.newser.com/story/186825/un-starts-talks-on-killer-robots.html?utm_source=part&utm_medium=united&utm_campaign=rss_topnews

[Malthus]

It is when the UN starts holding talks *with* the killer robots that we should start to get worried. 

[grumbler]

It is when the UN starts holding talks *with* the killer robots that we should start to get worried. 

[Grinning_Colossus]

Warbots could be programmed to adhere to the rules of war. Panicked and angry soldiers shoot civilians all the time, but properly programmed warbots wouldn't -- and if/when they did, their governments could be held more directly accountable.

[CountDeMoney]

11Bravo would be all about mechs, but at his age they're just too goddamned uncomfortable to get in and out of.

[Ideologue]

I wish the UN had killer robots.  This experiment in sovereignty hasn't really worked out.

[Monoriu]

Imagine the killer robots in the hands of North Korea's Kim.  No need to worry about revolts, ever. 

[Habbaku]

Imagine the killer robots in the hands of North Korea's Kim.  No need to worry about revolts, ever.

What's life like in North Korea?

Can't complain.

[The Brain]

Imagine the killer robots in the hands of North Korea's Kim.  No need to worry about revolts, ever.

He could only afford the one, so I think his current fleshmatons do the job nicely.

[11B4V]

11Bravo would be all about mechs, but at his age they're just too goddamned uncomfortable to get in and out of.

Too old to do that road marching shit.

[derspiess]

Fortunately we still have the option of Robot Insurance.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81303587/

[Siege]

[Siege]

[jimmy olsen]

The story points out that South Korea already uses sentry robots that can be programmed to shoot intruders who don't know the right password.

That's pretty metal!

[Darth Wagtaros]

When killer robots are outlawed only outlaws will have killer robots.