Weapons Systems That Kill According To Algorithms Are Coming. What To Do?

Lasrick writes "Mark Gubrud has another great piece exploring the slippery slope we seem to be traveling down when it comes to autonomous weapons systems: Quote: 'Autonomous weapons are robotic systems that, once activated, can select and engage targets without further intervention by a human operator. Advances in computer technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics may lead to a vast expansion in the development and use of such weapons in the near future. Public opinion runs strongly against killer robots. But many of the same claims that propelled the Cold War are being recycled to justify the pursuit of a nascent robotic arms race. Autonomous weapons could be militarily potent and therefore pose a great threat.'"

Comments

Don't be a target or act like a target...

[bobbied]

Problem solved!

Re:Where have I heard this before?

[Lisias]

Select targets? Really?

Wait until the system realizes ALL humans are targets.

Don't worry. Fail safe measures will be implemented in order to keep the systems secure. Look all that fabulous advances made on our computer security nowadays and rest assur... Oh, wait!

Easy

[tool462]

Wear a tshirt with a message written in a carefully formatted font so it causes a buffer overflow, giving your tshirt root privileges.
Mine would have the decss code on it, so the drone starts shooting pirated DVDs at everybody. The RIAA will make short work of the problem at that point.

Re:Easy

[Maelwryth]

Really? I was thinking more of dressing as a gay hispanic female carrying a baby (fake) showing obvious symptoms of cancer or something, with maybe an I love the USA hat on, or a mickey mouse T-shirt. Now that's defence through political fallout.

Re:Where have I heard this before?

[Anonymous Coward]

But many of the same claims that propelled the Cold War are being recycled to justify the pursuit of a nascent robotic arms race.

You environmental weenies are all the same, you go on and on about how we all need to recycle, but when we do it you complain about how we`re not doing "right"

Re:Source code:

[Anonymous Coward]

Bender: [while sleeping] Kill all humans, kill all humans, must kill all hu...
Fry: [shakes him] Bender wake up.
Bender: I was having the most wonderful dream. I think you were in it.

Re:Skynet

[Anonymous Coward]

The easiest way to avoid being vaporized is to wear a shirt that reads "/dev/null". No intelligent system will send anything your way.

captcha: toasted (damn, /dev/null has never failed me before)

Re:Where have I heard this before?

[Cryacin]

(Arnold holding a rocket launcher in his hand)

I have your security hole right here.

Re:We could not make them

[Anonymous Coward]

If you don't make them someone else will.

Therefore, in order to keep the playing field even, we must ensure that every citizen is permitted to own and operate these in their own homes for personal self defense.

Outlaw killer robots, and only outlaws will have killer robots.

A killer-robot-infested society is a polite society.

Eternal vigilance!

Re:Skynet

[lennier]

A robot, conversely, would always do what its master tells it, regardless of whether the master says, "go pick some daisies," or "go commit genocide."

ORDER RECEIVED: Pick daisies.
TARGET LOCATED: Daisy lawn, municipal park.
WEAPON SELECTED: BLU-82B ammonium nitrate/aluminium tactical thermobaric device "Daisy cutter"
EVALUATION: Commander will be so pleased.