On lethal autonomous weapons

摘要

This is not a technical article per se but an opinion piece, written in response to an open letter about lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) and to announce a point-counterpoint debate in communications. It is intended to engender more conversation among the members of our community on the topic of LAWS. The author gives a short history of war and the various restrictions on war as embodied in the Geneva Conventions through restrictions on various weapon systems. He then presents some of the difficulties of both positions on the proposed restrictions on using computers and, specifically, artificial intelligence for military use. His analysis of the issues tended to raise appropriate questions about both sides of the issue.