Warfighting Robots Could Reduce Civilian Casualties, So Calling for a Ban Now Is Premature

If autonomous weapons are capable of reducing casualties, there may exist a moral imperative for their use

4 min read
Warfighting Robots Could Reduce Civilian Casualties, So Calling for a Ban Now Is Premature
Afghan children in the village of Chahar Darreh walk past armored vehicles in 2010. The author argues that autonomous robotic military systems might be capable of reducing civilian casualties when compared to the performance of human warfighters.
Photo: Miguel Villagran/iStockphoto