Flying killer robots? Drones will soon decide who to kill

Science fiction is fast becoming science fact: The US Army recently announcedthat it is developing the first drones that can spot and target vehicles and people using artificial intelligence (AI).

This is a huge step forward. Whereas current military drones are still controlled by people, this new technology will decide who to kill with almost no human involvement. This will grant machines power over human life.

Once complete, these drones will represent the ultimate militarisation of AI and trigger vast legal and ethical implications for wider society to debate. Could warfare shift from fighting to extermination – losing any semblance of humanity in the process? Could the sphere of warfare widen so that the companies, engineers and scientists building AI become valid targets?