[ExI] AI and autonomous warfare

[Keith Henson]

The problem is humans, not AIs.

We have evolved to have psychological traits for wars simply because
genes for war survived bad times about 40% better than the no-war
alternative.  We are stuck with our genetics.


Keith

On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 7:33 AM BillK via extropy-chat
<extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
> On Mon, 15 Jul 2024 at 00:22, BillK <pharos at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > This long article discusses the increasing problem of autonomous weapons in warfare.
> > <https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/jul/14/ais-oppenheimer-moment-autonomous-weapons-enter-the-battlefield>
> > Quote:
> >
> > AI’s ‘Oppenheimer moment’: autonomous weapons enter the battlefield
> > The military use of AI-enabled weapons is growing, and the industry that provides them is booming
> > Nick Robins-Early      Sun 14 Jul 2024 17.00 BS
> > What has changed, researchers say, is both increased public attention to everything AI and genuine breakthroughs in the technology. Whether a weapon is truly “autonomous” has always been the subject of debate. Experts and researchers say autonomy is better understood as a spectrum rather than a binary, but they generally agree that machines are now able to make more decisions without human input than ever before.
> > -------------------------------------
> >
> > I asked Perplexity AI to review this long article.
> > BillK
> >
> > Perplexity AI -
> >
> > The article from The Guardian discusses the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into military weapons and operations, highlighting what some experts are calling AI's "Oppenheimer moment" - a reference to the development of the atomic bomb. This trend raises significant ethical, legal, and strategic implications for modern warfare.
> > <snip>
> > -----------------------
>
>
> As Perplexity AI insisted on the need for international cooperation to
> avoid an AI weapons arms race, I pointed out that while a war was in
> progress there would be little likelihood of international cooperation.
> Nations will not restrict weapon developments during wartime.
> War plus AI seems to indicate a bleak future.
>
> Perplexity AI grudgingly agreed, but then still added a long section
> about the urgent need for international cooperation.
>
> Below is the first part of the reply (with the long wishful-thinking cooperation
> section removed):
> BillK
>
> Perplexity AI:
> The continuation of the AI weapons arms race during ongoing conflicts
> is a significant concern, as nations prioritize military superiority
> over cooperative regulation. Here are the key points and implications
> based on the provided search results:
>
> 1. Intensification of the AI Arms Race
>
> Current State of Affairs:
> The AI arms race is characterized by rapid advancements in military
> technology among major powers like the U.S., China, and Russia. This
> competition is driven by the desire for strategic and tactical
> advantages on the battlefield, leading to the development of
> increasingly sophisticated AI-driven systems such as drones and
> autonomous vehicles.
>
> Implications:
>
> Escalation of Conflicts:
> The deployment of AI weapons can lead to faster and more automated
> warfare, potentially escalating conflicts due to reduced
> decision-making times and increased reliance on AI for strategic
> assessments.
>
> Ethical and Legal Challenges:
> The use of AI in warfare raises significant ethical and legal
> questions, including accountability for AI-driven actions and the
> potential for increased civilian casualties.
>
> 2. Challenges to International Cooperation
>
> War and Cooperation:
> During active conflicts, nations are less likely to engage in
> cooperative efforts to regulate AI weapons, as their immediate focus
> is on gaining military advantages. This competitive environment makes
> it difficult to establish and enforce international agreements or
> treaties aimed at controlling the development and use of AI in
> warfare. Implications:
>
> Lack of Regulation:
> The absence of international cooperation can lead to a lack of
> effective regulation, increasing the risks associated with the
> deployment of AI weapons.
>
> Proliferation of AI Weapons:
> Without international agreements, there is a higher likelihood of AI
> weapons proliferating, potentially falling into the hands of non-state
> actors or being used in ways that violate international humanitarian
> law.
> -----------------------
>
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