--- title: "Academics: Ban the Killer “Slaughterbots” Before We All Die" description: "Killer drones are already making airstrikes without any humans involved in the decision making, according to a recent UN report. " date: "2021-06-17" modified: "2021-06-17" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/academics-ban-slaughterbots" categories: - "Robots and Machines" tags: - "automated weapons" - "autonomous drones" - "drones" - "killer robots" - "slaughterbots" - "the digest" --- # Academics: Ban the Killer “Slaughterbots” Before We All Die ![Killer drones are already making airstrikes without any humans involved in the decision making, according to a recent UN report. ]() *\Image: Futurism\* ## Rise of the Slaughterbots Killer drones — or "slaughterbots" — are already conducting airstrikes without any humans involved in the *decision making*, according to a [recent UN report](). Again, not the piloting, the *decision making.* Computers are deciding *who to drone strike.* And that should have us really worried, a group of researchers argue in a [guest post for *IEEE Spectrum*](). "In so many words, the red line of autonomous targeting of humans has now been crossed," the team writes. The use of lethal autonomous weapon systems, according to them, should immediately be ceased. Nations around the world should sign a treaty to make sure these killer robots will never be used again. To send the message home, the Future of Life Institute, a non-profit focused on educating the world of the risks of AI and nuclear weapons, put together a video, released back in 2017, co-signed by the authors of the *IEEE Spectrum* post. https://youtu.be/9CO6M2HsoIA "Beyond the moral issue of handing over decisions over life and death to algorithms, the video pointed out that autonomous weapons will, inevitably, turn into weapons of mass destruction, precisely because they require no human supervision and can therefore be deployed in vast numbers," wrote the team, which is made up of computer science and physics professors. There's been some movement from the international community to push for an end to autonomous weapons systems, [including a statement]() from the International Committee of the Red Cross calling for "a prohibition on autonomous weapon systems that are designed or used to apply force against persons." The UN report publicly released back in March outlined the use of Turkish-made STM Kargu-2 drones that conducted airstrikes in Libya without any human intervention. The 14 pound drone can be mass produced and has the ability to target victims using facial recognition software autonomously. According to the report, drone systems like it "were programmed to attack targets without requiring data connectivity between the operator and the munition." It's not too late, the researchers argue, to come together as an international community and put an end to this extremely dark turn. "We want nothing more than for our 'Slaughterbots' video to become merely a historical reminder of a horrendous path not taken," the team wrote in their post. "A mistake the human race could have made, but didn’t." **READ MORE:** [Lethal Autonomous Weapons Exist; They Must Be Banned]() \[*IEEE Spectrum*\] **More on killer robots:** *[Autonomous Killer Robot Accused of Attacking Soldiers]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()