US-China AI race to develop killer robots risks catastrophe, warn peace campaigners
- Dutch-based peace group Pax warns in report that military use of artificial intelligence could leave algorithms with power of life or death
- World’s leading powers are trying to develop autonomous drones or submarines that can respond quickly to enemy action
An artificial intelligence arms race between majors powers such as China, Russia and the US could lead to catastrophe for humanity, according to a peace campaign organisation.
The report, by the Dutch-based organisation Pax, called for a pre-emptive ban on so-called killer robots and warned that the development of the technology could leave algorithms deciding whether people would live or die.
“An AI arms race … is more likely to be a no-win situation … [it] would be destabilising and increase the chances of conflict. It would have negative economic, political and societal impacts,” said the report, after examining the AI push in seven nations including United States, China and Russia.
It said the development of lethal autonomous weapons – designed to shorten reaction times and make strikes more precise – was curtailing the decision-making process regarding the use of force and increased the risk of mass casualties.
The world’s leading military powers have heavily invested in AI and are seeking to develop autonomous weapons like drones or submarines, which can detect a target enemy and automatically attack.