What possible autonomous system could be worse than a battery of ICBMs?
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The future of warfare
11–20 of 29 posts
Re: The future of warfare
#12> sentient robots Stopped reading there. There may be some kernel of truth in there, but trying to get it from a writer with literally zero integrity is pointless.
Current anti-aircraft/anti-missile/anti-mortar systems are already partially "sentient", they can see/heart/detect potential threats and respond appropriately (a human is usually required to press the "ok to fire" button but it's not necessary at all).
The article might not be very good, but this topic does need to be discussed publicly.
Re: The future of warfare
#13> sentient robots Stopped reading there. There may be some kernel of truth in there, but trying to get it from a writer with literally zero integrity is pointless.
Well they led the article with a picture of a terminator. You pretty much have to expect an agenda with a cultural cue like that.
Is the real life version less scary? http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2013/dec/images/640_darpa-atlas...
You wouldn't really be able to track a mobile robot with sophisticated evasion skills. It could popup randomly, kill with unmatched precision, then disappear. An army of these robots would be nearly unstoppable.
Several robots are being armed these days, with grenade launchers, sniper rifles, and both light and heavy machine guns (as seen on the guard sentries in the article) https://www.qinetiq-na.com/products/unmanned-systems/maars/
The only real limitation to current robots is the power-source / batteries. Right now we have to either strap a gasoline engine on it, tether it, or create it so that it's efficient enough to run off of existing batteries, which greatly limits their abilities.
Re: The future of warfare
#14What possible autonomous system could be worse than a battery of ICBMs?
ICBM's remain unused due to clear mutually-assured destruction. Autonomous weapons are much easier to introduce to actual warfare and once introduced are assured of continual improvement until...what?
Whatever we think the limits are, we're probably wrong.
Re: The future of warfare
#15What possible autonomous system could be worse than a battery of ICBMs?
Many things. What matters is real world outcomes, not hypothetical potential for destruction. The US doesn't use ICBMs, so in the real world they are effectively harmless. The US public and the rest of the world will not allow their use. Autonomous mechanical soldiers, on the other hand, may very well be fair game.
Re: The future of warfare
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well they led the article with a picture of a terminator. You pretty much have to expect an agenda with a cultural cue like that.
Is the real life version less scary? http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2013/dec/images/640_darpa-atlas... You wouldn't really be able to track a mobile robot with sophisticated evasion skills. It could popup randomly, kill with unmatched precision, then disappear. An army of these robots would be nearly unstoppable. Several robots are being armed these days, with grenade launchers, sniper rifles, and both light and heavy…
Well you kinda already incorporated my reply into your post, yes, the real life version is much less scary, because it doesn't actually exist yet.
Obviously it's coming, I won't dispute that, but scare tactics don't make for a reasonable discussion, even when the person using them is absolutely sure they're doing the right thing.
Re: The future of warfare
#17Lem covered this a long time ago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_on_Earth_(novel)
Re: The future of warfare
#18What possible autonomous system could be worse than a battery of ICBMs?
Okay, compare the muslim/"Mughal" invasion of India to oh, say 100 Hiroshima's. Then tell me which is worse. I think you'll agree that the invasion was much, much worse.
ICBMs are not the world-enders their reputation seems to indicate. The real problem with ICBMs is that nothing can stop them. You know where someone is, an ICBM can kill them, with very, very few exceptions. No other technology will do that. That's why they're so feared. Not because they'll "end" a country, but because politicians fear for their own skin. Russia can destroy the white house, and there isn't a damn thing the US can do to stop them using ICBMs (one would not reliably do it).
By far the most scary weapon in the world is extremely humble : knives. Not even "scary" knives. Think blunt, 10cm long or less, knives. They are by a ridiculous margin, the weapon most people were killed with. The second place are short, curved swords.
Re: The future of warfare
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is the real life version less scary? http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2013/dec/images/640_darpa-atlas... You wouldn't really be able to track a mobile robot with sophisticated evasion skills. It could popup randomly, kill with unmatched precision, then disappear. An army of these robots would be nearly unstoppable. Several robots are being armed these days, with grenade launchers, sniper rifles, and both light and heavy…
Well you kinda already incorporated my reply into your post, yes, the real life version is much less scary, because it doesn't actually exist yet. Obviously it's coming, I won't dispute that, but scare tactics don't make for a reasonable discussion, even when the person using them is absolutely sure they're doing the right thing.
>Obviously it's coming, I won't dispute that, but scare tactics don't make for a reasonable discussion, even when the person using them is absolutely sure they're doing the right thing.
Seems that if you can see all of that, then you might be able to ignore the bits you don't like and discuss the topic on its merits.
It would be much more interesting to read your thoughts on, say, the technology, morality, etc. This, rather than a critique of the author's writing style.
Re: The future of warfare
#20Sentient != autonomous, ie: the future are drones with that can receive orders and act on them rather than needing commands in real-time from an operator far away.
Of course talking about sentient machines with a terminator pic is much more clickbaity...