An autonomous weapon is any form of missile, drone or armed vehicle that uses AI to make its own decsions. This may be about navigating terrain, but may also include choosing targets. The latter has given rise to substantial concern as there is no human in the loop to ensure that only acceptable military targets are attacked. AI is used extensively in other military applications, including offering advice on targetting, but without the systems being completely autonomous.
Used in Chap. 20: page 334; Chap. 23: page 391; Chap. 24: page 401
Links:
theguardian.com:
‘The Gospel’: how Israel uses AI to select bombing targets in Gaza
theguardian.com:
‘The machine did it coldly’: Israel used AI to identify 37,000 Hamas targets
dronewars.net:
Drone Wars UK – campaign organisation montoring drone use
aiforpeace.org:
AI for Peace –- web site connected to the book AI for Peace in the CRC AI for Everything series