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Killer Robots Pose Danger to Humans: Report

Machines need 'warrior code,' says analyst

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 16, 2009 1:58 PM CST

(Newser) – The warfare of the not-so-distant future will rely on robots that can make decisions for themselves—and for our own safety, they’ll need a firm code of conduct, says a US Navy report in the first “serious” study of robot ethics. “There is a common misconception that robots will do only what we have programmed them to do,” its writer tells the Times of London.

But since teams of programmers will have a hand in these robots, no one individual will know the millions of lines of code, or be able to predict how they will work together—which could lead to a scenario in which they turn on their human handlers. The report also details a number of ethical, legal, social, and political issues associated with robot technology: For instance, if a robot harms civilians, who takes the fall—the robot, its programmer, or the president?

[Images (3)]

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Not all robots are likely to be as friendly as this one. (Getty Images)

Sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov wrote a code of conduct for robots. (Getty Images)

The U.S. military is currently using the pilotless Predator, shown in this undated photo, for reconnaissance flights over Bosnia and developing two other robot spyplanes. (AP Photo/Air Force)

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Without a sustained effort to build in ethical controls in autonomous systems, there is little hope that the early generations of such systems and robots will be adequate, making mistakes that may cost human lives. - US Navy report

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Killer Robots Pose Danger to Humans: Report