British group campaigns against autonomous death-bots

It looks like professor Noel Sharkey isn't the only one stirred up about autonomous killing machines. An anti-landmine group in London called Landmine Action is now calling for the ban of robots capable of killing people all on their lonsome. The group believes these bots fall under the same category as landmines -- which are outlawed in 150 countries -- and is pressing governments to keep control in the hands of a human operator. The group is also campaigning to put a stop to autonomous cluster bombs (which self-detonate), and feels these bots fall under the same category. Says spokesman Richard Moyes, "Our concern is that humans, not sensors, should make targeting decisions. So similarly, we don't want to move towards robots that make decisions about combatants and noncombatants." Of course, if the bots can pass a Turing test, how will we know the difference? Needless to say, Skynet could not be reached for comment.

[YoJIMbo @ Mar 28th 2008 11:10AM]

NO DISASSEMBLE! NO DISASSEMBLE!!!

[aardvark sandwich @ Mar 28th 2008 11:12AM]

Your mother was a snowblower!

[YoJIMbo @ Mar 28th 2008 11:13AM]

Thanks, Laser lips!

[blank @ Mar 28th 2008 11:41AM]

Los Locos kick your ass! Los Locos kick your face! Los Locos kick your balls into outer space!!

[blank @ Mar 28th 2008 11:45AM]

Sorry, I forgot to add:

We should be more worried about street gangs like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rxlidAR3Fw

[Flashpoint @ Mar 28th 2008 2:12PM]

So does this mean that the overthrow of humanity has been postponed?


"You didn't stop Judgement day, you only postponed it!"
- Ahnie

[Arkweld @ Mar 28th 2008 11:20AM]

looks like some people in the UK are watching The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Fox will be pleased. AIs trying to get equal rights, probably not so much.

[fanman @ Mar 28th 2008 11:47AM]

I don't see what the fuss is about. Americans can't tell the difference between combatants and non combatants either.

[mattydread @ Mar 28th 2008 12:25PM]

RE: fanman

Well when the enemy combatants don't wear uniforms and operate in heavily populated areas things will be messy. It's a shame, I know, but be realistic.

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 28th 2008 12:50PM]

Ah, there it is... quick to jump on the Anti-American bandwagon... even on a story that's about the UK.

[Nutsy @ Mar 28th 2008 1:23PM]

Matty he was being realistic. Thats the problem.

[Nutsy @ Mar 28th 2008 1:25PM]

Oh and its not like america has 101 projects just like this one .... Automatied twin MP5s anyone?

Im against autominas killing machines.

Im also against remote controled killing machines.

Why? Because war is shit. If it was easy we would have alot more of them...

The fact people in our forces die in war is a good thing. Sad but good. Its a reminder to why we shouldnt go to war in the first place. People die. Killing is bad........

[Nutsy @ Mar 28th 2008 1:26PM]

And Doh i wish there was an edit option here... Could of done with proof reading my last reply :D

[fanman @ Mar 28th 2008 2:48PM]

Yes, I was being facetious. I am well aware that to be anti America is anti hundreds of thousands of individual people, and therefore absurd. I simply find irony in the fact that people in the UK are worried about a machine killing passers by or even our own troops when the american military is (inevitably) doing that perfectly well anyway. War is hell, with or without machinery.

Still, brings a whole new meaning the BSoD...

[Reader @ Mar 28th 2008 4:23PM]

Wait, you people in the UK are allowed to protest? I was pretty sure the Thought Police did not like dissidence.

[sayid @ Mar 28th 2008 5:35PM]

OH NO! So *that's* how Skynet got started.

Can you say bring out the whips?

[AdvWar @ Mar 28th 2008 9:30PM]

We don't actually have "Thought Police" in the UK, I'm afraid that is reserved to the USA and its totalitarian buddies.

[fanman @ Mar 29th 2008 1:54PM]

@Reader Hehe legal torture.

[Greenteacookiedough @ Mar 28th 2008 11:20AM]

How will it distinguish combatants to noncombatants? - whether they have a turban on their head?

[kyle allen @ Mar 28th 2008 1:16PM]

no

[Jherez @ Mar 28th 2008 1:29PM]

Incompetent Fascist...

[sayid @ Mar 28th 2008 5:37PM]

Needless to say, you are a douche...

[Killer @ Mar 28th 2008 11:24AM]

A land mine- an explosive device designed to be placed on or in the ground to explode when triggered by an operator or the proximity of a vehicle, person, or animal.

How do robots that kill on their own, fall under that catagory agian?

[loop @ Mar 28th 2008 11:31AM]

A autonomous killing machine - a shooting device designed to be placed on or in the ground to shoot when triggered by an operator or the proximity of a vehicle, person, or animal.

[Michael Solomon @ Mar 28th 2008 11:37AM]

in a weird way the guys right. mines kill whoever steps on them..and unless it had some amazing ai, a robot could/would kill anything nearby. say johnny 5 is told to "guard this tasty taco till i get back and shoot anyone that tries to take it". but then a random baby wanders off the street and climbs down through an airduct into your apartment. this baby also really enjoys the occasional cruncy taco... tada... bad day for jr

[Grizz @ Mar 28th 2008 11:51AM]

Think of it more like things that kill long after the wars over.

In all seriousness, think of our children, and their children who could fall prey to such forgotten devices.

[generally @ Mar 28th 2008 12:18PM]

The fall under the same category because both the mine and the robot have the POTENTIAL to target the wrong targets. Obviously a mine is going to kill indiscriminately, and is going to target whatever comes near it.

But what if you have a mobile-mine running around while making decisions about what it wants to target? Sounds a lot like the robot, and the same category.

[Anonymoose @ Mar 28th 2008 11:29AM]

guns don't kill people. robots with death bombs of destruction and death and dead promise of die face do.

[Ellianth @ Mar 28th 2008 11:31AM]

They should send one of the autonomous kill bots to defend it's existence at one of these protests (assuming that these people are gonna protest).

[Robobagins @ Mar 28th 2008 11:40AM]

At least Landmine Action is doing it's part to stop Judgement Day. What have YOU done to prevent the Machine Revolution?

[aeo @ Mar 28th 2008 11:47AM]

As much as I love robots and technology I have to agree with this group's concerns. Show me a sensor that can identify a human _enemy_ target with 100% accuracy and I might concede. I'm not even too thrilled about the autonomous aircraft being developed. Yeah, it's super cool, yeah, we have vehicle identification almost down to an art, but humans still make the final decision and pull the trigger. 100% identification accuracy is needed before we should even consider allowing autonomous sentry machines to be turned loose.

[al @ Mar 28th 2008 12:51PM]

What! "identify a human _enemy_ target with 100% accuracy and I might concede"

So I guess thats what humans are capable of right? I mean, we never make mistakes. Drones using AI have already been deployed a long time ago, and are proving highly successful in the right circumstances. They are not dumb fire machines like landmines, and the improvments in AI will probably result in them being more capable of target recognition than any human.

[aeo @ Mar 28th 2008 1:14PM]

@al

Oh yeah, that's a fine rationalization. "WE make mistakes so why can't they?". Because WE are generally held responsible for our mistakes. Friendly fire incidents are prosecuted. AI "probably" being more capable ain't gonna cut it bud. Yeah, drones are working good but thankfully, "under the right circumstances" doesn't include autonomous attack decisions (yet).

[Flashpoint @ Mar 28th 2008 2:20PM]

100% identification recognition?

Lets see how you feel when thee robots {{{ KILL HUMANS / DON'T KILL HUMANS }}} switch gets reset.

[Joshua Pitcock @ Mar 28th 2008 4:30PM]

@Al

"They are not dumb fire machines like landmines, and the improvments in AI will probably result in them being more capable of target recognition than any human."

That's what makes it so scary! It is our nature, as humans, to create or cause our own demise. Be it guns, bombs, robots, destruction of the environment, etc. This is a serious subject. I'm amazed at how many people find this amusing.

[al @ Mar 28th 2008 4:46PM]

How is it not a fine rationalisation? Predictable and logical behaviour by a robot, whether right or wrong can be modified and upgraded to perfect it. Humans will always be the weak link in the chain. I doubt if a robot will ever feel the need to be sadistic or brutal as is oftern descibed of the actions of some regular soldiers.

Oh and to the other guy, well it is funny, I work on technologies related to this feild and what can i say, one operator controlling the actions of 5 or more semi autonomous robots (unitll AI is sufficent) if far more economical than employing 5 pilots who may make mistakes or choose to not follow orders!

[Cellenin @ Mar 28th 2008 12:03PM]

Johnny 5 hung is head in shame, when it was revealed he was the long lost member of the Village People.

[Dorf @ Mar 28th 2008 12:05PM]

Less killbots, more hedonismbots.

[Jason @ Mar 28th 2008 12:08PM]

femmebots ftw.

[sully @ Mar 28th 2008 12:50PM]

I really want my Lucy Liubot

[kal326 @ Mar 28th 2008 3:23PM]

@Jason

Who doesn't like machine gun jublies?

[Frankincell @ Mar 28th 2008 12:07PM]

I for one welcome our new robotic overlords.
(had to be said)
--Frank

[YoJIMbo @ Mar 28th 2008 12:10PM]

No, I don't think it did... but I gave you a POSITIVE anyway ;)

[kenth Fagerlund @ Mar 28th 2008 12:15PM]

Thank you! How can a killer robot story go without that comment??

Oh, almost forgot..
I for one welcome our new robotic overlords too.

[crho85 @ Mar 28th 2008 12:39PM]

Let us edit:

I for one welcome our cowboy hat and 1980's stonewash jean jacket robot overlords

[kyle allen @ Mar 28th 2008 1:21PM]

@crho85
its from the movie short circut, witch was filmed right next to my house! one of the scenes where it was driving.

[Mike @ Mar 31st 2008 10:26AM]

Needless to say, you all need to grow a sense of humor.

[For2itous @ Mar 28th 2008 12:09PM]

Yikes! Its definitely time to pull Philip K. Dick out of cryo-storage and have him reboot Blade Runner...

[Travis Pulley @ Mar 28th 2008 12:33PM]

It's not like there aren't problems with civilian casualties and friendly fire with humans. I know this same concern happens with the idea of automatically driving vehicles, and it's not like people are generally good at that either.

[Matt Dearman @ Mar 28th 2008 12:22PM]

Landmines - Devices used to kill or mame if stepped on having no logic or differentiation of their intended or un-intended target.

Suicide Bomber - People used to kill or mame by exploding themselves having no logic or differentiation of their intended or un-intended target.

Yeah, That seems fair. Lets outlaw autonomous death-bots, yet somehow retain people with no thought or consideration to the intended victim.

Viva Liberals, welcome to Dooms Day! :-(