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Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and Robotics have been replacing Americans in the workplace. Not only are they taking our jobs, now they are killing us! By us, I mean human beings. It is estimated that at least 27 humans have been killed by robots in the workplace. Of course, the corporations have placed the blame for the accidents on human error. A police department employed a robot normally used to diffuse bombs to deliver a bomb to a man who had shot people and had barricaded himself. The bomb was detonated by remote control killing the shooter.
A MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle prepares to land after a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The Reaper has the ability to carry both precision-guided bombs and air-to-ground missiles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), better known as Drones have killed an estimated 3,502 combatants and 457 civilians since 2002 in the War on Terror in Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and other Muslim countries. The estimate was provided by the FDD’s Long War Journal, a media organization dedicated to providing accurate reporting and analysis of the Long War also known as the Global War on Terror. It is difficult to provide an accurate body count, as the Drone Program is a covert operation and the U.S. government does not openly cooperate with the media in areas where the wars are being fought. These figures to not include those maimed or wounded.
Drones are currently manned by soldiers at communication bases. These Drones can be operated by remote control from hundreds of miles away. The targets are selected using gathered military intelligence and visual reporting from satellites and cameras on the drones. Now scientists and the military are working on creating drones that can go out, select a target and destroy it on their own. These autonomous robots will be making their own decisions to kill humans, hopefully enemy combatants. Yes, these warrior robots will save the lives of our soldiers but at what cost? Does making it easier to kill by using machines to do the killing lessen our humanity?
Unmanned ground vehicles fitted with weaponry are being tested for combat. It is only a matter of time before they are in operation. Human rights organizations, scientists and activists are concerned about what this could mean in the future. What is its impact on warfare and how does it effect the rules of the Geneva Conventions. They are calling for international treaties to ban these types of weapons. They fear a new arms race with other countries. It is known that China and Russia are working to develop these intelligent weapons. The Pentagon is spending 18 billion dollars on research for A.I. weaponry. (Wouldn’t that buy a lot of health insurance?)
I, Robot
These robots have no fear, feel no pain, no guilt, no empathy for humans and will be turned loose to search for and terminate enemy targets. Will they really be able to differentiate between the enemy and civilians? Will corporations build their own robot armies and contract them out? Will they one day turn against all humans? Who should we fear most, robots or human beings? Some regulations and safe guards need to be put in place and a good place to start would be remembering Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics written in 1950:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to be harmed.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Author’s Note:
I have been given the opportunity to express my opinion and viewpoints on politics, national, state, and local issues as well as life in general. I hope to inform you as well as entertain you, make you smile or make you mad. I will use humor, sarcasm and occasionally anger to express my views. My intention is to hold politicians accountable sometimes bringing some heat on them and if my views make you angry or hot, remember that like my humor, it is a dry heat. These opinions are entirely my own and do not reflect the views of Copper Area News Publishers.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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