Robots have become an integral part of our lives and regular competitions are held to encourage experts to build sophisticated robots that can take over the work of humans. Space exploration makes extensive use of Robotics and Mars rover Curiosity is the best example. Sci-fi movies also depict robots that can wage war and, if such killer robots enter real life, the result would be a disaster.
That is why experts in the field of robotics and Artificial Intelligence have taken the initiative to caution the world of dangers of killer robots or machines that are programmed to kill.
A total of 116 eminent persons have sent an open letter to the United Nations demanding that use of such killer machines must be banned all over the world. The signatories include Tesla founder Elon Musk and head of applied AI at Google's DeepMind Mustafa Suleyman.
Man must exercise restraint
Daily Mail UK reports that killer robots are weapons of the future and would be a threat to global stability. Robots are results of artificial intelligence and are useful so long as they are beneficial to man. Weapons are used by both the law enforcers as well as the lawbreakers and when a weapon is embedded with artificial intelligence it transforms into a robot. If it is then programmed to commit crimes, it becomes a formidable weapon.
There could be people who would use such robots to kill people. In the opinion of experts, such killer robots are a misguided application of robotics and must be banned before they become weapons of mass destruction.
The letter to the UN is written by professor Toby Walsh of the University of New South Wales and the subject would be highlighted at an international AI conference in Melbourne.
Development of products of this nature will lead to armed conflict that would be difficult to control and these robots will be another weapon in the hands of undesirable elements like terrorists. Killer robots must be grouped in the category of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and banned.
Prevent entry of killer robots
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has cautioned the political leaders that artificial intelligence poses an "existential threat" to human civilization. He has also added that AI is a fundamental existential risk for human civilization and there must be awareness about its potential pitfalls.
Hollywood movies of the sci-fi genre glorify robots and these are shown to engage in battles. Robots are nothing but machines that have been imparted with artificial intelligence and are programmed to perform certain predesignated tasks. As long as they remain in the realms of imagination, there is no harm done but, once such machines are programmed to kill, they become killer robots and instruments of terror. Robotics is here to stay but it must not be employed to churn out killers.
