The Department of Defense is investing in artificial intelligence projects to secretly manufacture weapons

According to a recent list of artificial intelligence (AI) projects from the UK Ministry of Defense handed over to Drone Wars UK, an independent group that monitors new weapons projects, the department will allocate millions of pounds to the three armed forces programmes. . The goal will be to develop “lethal weapons systems” using artificial intelligence, including “killer robots” according to analysts, which require minimal or no human control.

The documents proving this data were revealed through a freedom of information request, which promotes transparency in public spending by the British government. However, these programs and additional information remained confidential. It is worth highlighting the United Kingdom’s assertion that it does not possess fully autonomous weapons and has no intention of developing them.

The list includes more than 200 projects, covering not only software, but also intelligence analysis and the use of drone swarms. One of the projects included is the future combat aviation system, which includes the development of the new Tempest aircraft, as well as the creation of new spy satellites and unmanned submarines.

The focal point of the list focuses on “promoting the development of autonomous systems based on artificial intelligence for use on the battlefield,” some of which use drones as a platform, air, sea and land. But the main question lies not only in the secrecy surrounding these projects, but also in the ethical issues and risks that may be involved.

Drone Wars’ Peter Burt and Chris Cole have warned about this, saying that the use of computer-controlled weapons, even under nominal human control, often operates at dizzying speed and often “makes ambiguous decisions that can put civilians at risk.” Cole stresses that the British government must remain transparent in the development of artificial intelligence and similar technologies, even though these programs “raise important questions about the government’s stated commitment.”

Currently, the UK is already using AI to analyze large amounts of data, which has raised concerns about privacy and the need for information safeguards. Moreover, it does not support proposals made at the United Nations to ban such systems. The government claims there are more than 200 programs underway, although less than half appear on the list provided to Drone Wars, and they have rejected the entire information request for “defence and national security reasons.”

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