International Governance of Autonomous Military Robots

Marchant, Gary E.; Allenby, Braden; Arkin, Ronald C.; Barrett, Edward T.; Borenstein, Jason; Gaudet, Lyn M.; Kittrie, Orde F.; Lin, Patrick; Lucas, George; O’Meara, Richard Michael; Silberman, Jared

doi:10.1007/978-90-481-9707-1_102

Cited by 40 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…In addition to the above practical issues, and governance issues, there are of course ethical issues associated with LAWS [117]. In the developing digital world, create instruments to stimulate and organize the useful and necessary complementarities and synergies between ethics and law.…”

Section: A75 Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (Proposition 5 Ai mentioning

confidence: 99%

Unintended Side Effects of the Digital Transition: European Scientists’ Messages from a Proposition-Based Expert Round Table

et al. 2018

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Abstract:We present the main messages of a European Expert Round Table (ERT) on the unintended side effects (unseens) of the digital transition. Seventeen experts provided 42 propositions from ten different perspectives as input for the ERT. A full-day ERT deliberated communalities and relationships among these unseens and provided suggestions on (i) what the major unseens are; (ii) how rebound effects of digital transitioning may become the subject of overarching research; and (iii) what unseens should become subjects of transdisciplinary theory and practice processes for developing socially robust orientations. With respect to the latter, the experts suggested that the "ownership, economic value, use and access of data" and, related to this, algorithmic decision-making call for transdisciplinary processes that may provide guidelines for key stakeholder groups on how the responsible use of digital data can be developed. A cluster-based content analysis of the propositions, the discussion and inputs of the ERT, and a theoretical analysis of major changes to levels of human systems and the human-environment relationship resulted in the following greater picture: The digital transition calls for redefining economy, labor, democracy, and humanity. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based machines may take over major domains of human labor, reorganize supply chains, induce platform economics, and reshape the participation of economic actors in the value chain. (Digital) Knowledge and data supplement capital, labor, and natural resources as major economic variables. Digital data and technologies lead to a post-fuel industry (post-) capitalism. Traditional democratic processes can be (intentionally or unintentionally) altered by digital technologies. The unseens in this field call for special attention, research and management. Related to the conditions of ontogenetic and phylogenetic development (humanity), the ubiquitous, global, increasingly AI-shaped interlinkage of almost every human personal, social, and economic activity and the exposure to indirect, digital, artificial, fragmented, electronically mediated data affect behavioral, cognitive, psycho-neuro-endocrinological processes on the level of the individual and thus social relations (of groups and families) and culture, and thereby, the essential quality and character of the human being (i.e., humanity). The findings suggest a need for a new field of research, i.e., focusing on sustainable digital societies and environments, in which the identification, analysis, and management of vulnerabilities and unseens emerging in the sociotechnical digital transition play an important role.Keywords: digital transformation; digital curtain; digital vaulting; unintended side effects (unseens), proposition-based expert round tables Scope and Goals Digitalization as a Main Driver of Human Socio-Cultural EvolutionThe digital revolution comprises one of the major transitions of human development. We may consider it to be as critical as the mastery of fire, the development of lang...

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Section: A75 Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (Proposition 5 Ai mentioning

confidence: 99%

Unintended Side Effects of the Digital Transition: European Scientists’ Messages from a Proposition-Based Expert Round Table

et al. 2018

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“…Lacking any anticipated military value, the harm they inflict would result in a violation of the principles of military necessity and distinction. 13 …”

Section: Military Necessitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conducting urban warfare while maintaining traditionally restrictive implementations of the LOAC represents a significant challenge. 13 This is the dilemma Israel has faced in its three conflicts since 2008 with Hamas in Gaza. Israel is extremely conscious that Hamas will use the proximity of civilians to try to confront it with operational dilemmas to employing precision strike systems against legitimate targets.…”

Section: The Challenge Of Applying the Loac To Urban Warfarementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Proponents argue that because autonomous systems do not become fatigued or angry, they have the potential to more consistently and rigorously adhere to agreed-upon interpretations of the LOAC in the heat of battle. 13 Critics argue that human empathy remains a crucial element in avoiding taking actions that might be consistent with programmed interpretations of the LOAC, but will nonetheless be perceived after the fact as atrocities that a human operator would have avoided. 14 As no such systems have yet been developed, let alone tested in battlefield conditions, it is difficult to speculate which aspect of these systems would prove to be more salient.…”

Section: Implications For Us Law Of Armed Conflict Implementationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…12 The finding that images of casualties reduce public support for the conflict in which they occurred is well established, and it has been a significant source of concern for U.S. policymakers at least since the infamous 1968 My Lai massacre. 13 Until recently, such images were produced and distributed primarily by journalists. However, the development and diffusion of digital imaging technology, including smartphones, has the potential to make the ability to record and transmit such images or videos pervasive.…”

Section: Implications Of a Recorded Battlespacementioning

confidence: 99%

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The Continued Evolution of U.S. Law of Armed Conflict Implementation: Implications for the U.S. Military

Frederick¹,

Johnson²

2015

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Legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks for development of standards in artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous robotic surgery

O’Sullivan

Nevejans

Allen

et al. 2019

Robotics Computer Surgery

236

150

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Background This paper aims to move the debate forward regarding the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous robotic surgery with a particular focus on ethics, regulation and legal aspects (such as civil law, international law, tort law, liability, medical malpractice, privacy and product/device legislation, among other aspects). Methods We conducted an intensive literature search on current or emerging AI and autonomous technologies (eg, vehicles), military and medical technologies (eg, surgical robots), relevant frameworks and standards, cyber security/safety‐ and legal‐systems worldwide. We provide a discussion on unique challenges for robotic surgery faced by proposals made for AI more generally (eg, Explainable AI) and machine learning more specifically (eg, black box), as well as recommendations for developing and improving relevant frameworks or standards. Conclusion We classify responsibility into the following: (1) Accountability; (2) Liability; and (3) Culpability. All three aspects were addressed when discussing responsibility for AI and autonomous surgical robots, be these civil or military patients (however, these aspects may require revision in cases where robots become citizens). The component which produces the least clarity is Culpability, since it is unthinkable in the current state of technology. We envision that in the near future a surgical robot can learn and perform routine operative tasks that can then be supervised by a human surgeon. This represents a surgical parallel to autonomously driven vehicles. Here a human remains in the ‘driving seat’ as a ‘doctor‐in‐the‐loop’ thereby safeguarding patients undergoing operations that are supported by surgical machines with autonomous capabilities.

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International Governance of Autonomous Military Robots

Cited by 40 publications

References 24 publications

Unintended Side Effects of the Digital Transition: European Scientists’ Messages from a Proposition-Based Expert Round Table

Unintended Side Effects of the Digital Transition: European Scientists’ Messages from a Proposition-Based Expert Round Table

The Continued Evolution of U.S. Law of Armed Conflict Implementation: Implications for the U.S. Military

Legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks for development of standards in artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous robotic surgery

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