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John,
It’s like a bad sci-fi movie, but far worse, as it becomes the rapidly changing reality: handing over the weapons of war to Artificial Intelligence, to make battlefield decisions unchecked by human intervention. The AI Expo offers a terrifying glimpse into the near-future of autonomous warfare.
When Lockheed advertises its AI factory, Microsoft touts its DALL-E AI-based battlefield imaging, and Google gushes about its AI missile-firing system, it’s clear that the AI arms race has the potential to get beyond human control quicker than we can imagine.
While nations compete to get the edge in AI weapons systems, we need to stop and take a clear-eyed look at what we are unleashing. It’s no exaggeration to say that AI weapons systems, operating outside of human control, could bring a cataclysmic end to humanity.
As with nuclear weapons, international accords are needed to effectively ban AI-based weapons systems. Urge President Biden to lead a global charge to stop the AI arms race and develop agreements to keep human beings in charge of battlefield decisions.
As Silicon Valley pours billions of dollars into weapons makers, an unholy alliance is taking shape between weapons contractors and AI companies. The goal is to produce weapons that function 100% autonomously, able to select and annihilate targets, without human input. Targets could be military or civilian: AI has no moral compunctions.
Modern warfare is already inherently dehumanizing, and humankind has had the potential for mutually assured destruction for three-quarters of a century. But whereas human error can create massive devastation, machines making life-and-death decisions devoid of human judgment pose an even greater threat.
Research and development of autonomous weapons must be clearly prohibited, with strict regulations, inspections, and penalties for infractions. It will take global leadership to develop an international consensus on AI weapons systems. President Biden has an opportunity to add this to his legacy, but it will only happen if we demand that it be a top priority.
Join us today to deliver the message to President Biden: Take action to support a global ban on autonomous weapons systems now!
Thank you for helping keep AI weapons systems off the battlefield.
- DFA AF Team
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