An open letter on the Boston Dynamics site to the robotics industry argued for not weaponizing robots.
Main point: “We pledge that we will not weaponize our advanced-mobility general-purpose robots or the software we develop that enables advanced robotics and we will not support others to do so.”
More about it:
- …we call on policymakers to work with us to promote safe use of these robots and to prohibit their misuse.”
- “We also call on every organization, developer, researcher, and user in the robotics community to make similar pledges not to build, authorize, support, or enable the attachment of weaponry to such robots.”
Why it matters:
- “We believe that adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated, widely available to the public, and capable of navigating to previously inaccessible locations where people live and work, raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues.”
- “Weaponized applications of these newly-capable robots will also harm public trust in the technology in ways that damage the tremendous benefits they will bring to society.”
Other commentary:
- Nasu and Korpela highlighted “humanitarian benefits that should be emphasized in promoting the application of artificial intelligence in various ways to enhance the accuracy of weapons systems and reduce civilian casualties caused.”
- The “public outcry may not be enough to stop an international war machine that is already building semi-autonomous weapons to identify and aim at targets by themselves.”
Young people entering the workforce in these industries will be faced with decisions about their roles in these industries. Some will not want to work on projects deploying such technology to battlefields. Others will be fine with it, believing it will protect the country.