Intermediate · Safety
Lethal autonomous weapon (LAW)
Visual diagram · (in preparation) · Math · (in preparation) · Worked example · 3 difficulty levels.
TL;DR. A Lethal Autonomous Weapon (LAW) is a weapon system capable of independently identifying and engaging targets without direct human control.
Technical Definition
A Lethal Autonomous Weapon (LAW) is a weapon system capable of independently identifying and engaging targets without direct human control.
How it works
Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWs), also known as autonomous weapon systems, are designed to independently search for, identify, and engage targets based on pre-programmed criteria. This raises significant ethical and safety concerns regarding accountability, the risk of unintended escalation, and the potential for errors in target selection or engagement.
Related Concepts
- Safety — Designing AI systems to behave reliably and avoid causing harm under realistic conditions.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) — Machines that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence.
- Robotics — The interdisciplinary field focused on designing, building, and operating robots.