Science fiction has made us vigilant of 'killer robots' in our midst, but they're far closer than many of us realise.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Weapons
Displaying 1 - 20 of 46 articles
Trump claimed that 'we would be punishing ourselves' by using US arms sales to Saudi Arabia as a bargaining chip over the disappearance of Khashoggi. A look at the arms trade shows why he's wrong.
We already have some autonomous weapons – so talk of any ban should focus on where we draw the line on what is acceptable, and what is not. Can we at least agree on that?
One hundred years after its capture from the battle fields of France, the last German battle tank of its kind is giving up its secrets to archeologists and forensic analysis.
AI has caused a "techlash" against Google. These principles are first step, but more needs to be done.
The science behind the famous World War II attack masterminded by Barnes Wallis.
To justify giving police military-style weapons, there must be both a credible threat and an identified deficiency in current police capabilities.
Canada used to be more careful about selling arms to countries that practised human rights violations. What happened?
The Campaign Against Killer Robots has launched a terrifying film showing why lethal drones need to be banned.
Australia is playing a major role in developing legal guidelines that would govern how any war in space is played out. The authors of MILAMOS hope the manual is never actually required.
Robots are a twin-edged sword. Used badly, they may one day perpetrate genocide and war crimes. Used well, they can prevent them.
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma seems to be making a final push to secure the nuclear power deal before his tenure comes to an end. But it won't be easy.
It's too easy to blame gang culture.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s comments about weapons as part of development for Africa could have the opposite effect if conditions aren’t strict and democratic processes aren't followed.
African governments are open to military aid from the West. However, Germany’s recent remarks about the transfer of weapons to countries battling militants, needs to be approached with caution.
Treaties banning biological and chemical weapons are in place, and the path is clear to remove nuclear weapons too. Lethal autonomous weapons (killer robots) should be next.
Pop culture has always found something sexy about female fighters, who feature in everything from Sumerian hymns and Greek mythology to the new Wonder Woman film.
The early use of poison is one more indicator of an advanced repertoire of behavioural and technological traits that have characterised our species from the earliest times.
America's longstanding tradition of isolationism meant that in 1917 U.S. forces needed a lot of support from overseas allies to fight effectively.
Trump's first budget proposal would boost defense spending by US$52 billion, but his desired military buildup is premised on misleading claims and lacks a strategic vision.
Top contributors
-
Professor, School for the Future of Innovation in Society & School of Computing, Informatics and Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University
-
Doctoral Candidate in Robot Ethics, University of Canterbury
-
Jean Monnet Chair in Politics and Economics, Monash University
-
Terrence Guay is a Friend of The Conversation.
Clinical Professor of International Business, Pennsylvania State University
-
Reader in Engineering Dynamics and Vibration, University of Cambridge
-
Professor of Law, University of Adelaide
-
Professor of AI at UNSW, Research Group Leader, Data61
-
Lecturer in Middle East Studies, Deakin University
-
Assistant Professor, School of Law, University of Canberra
-
Lecturer in Global Studies, Social Science & Planning, RMIT University
-
Professor of International Law, Western Sydney University
-
Associate Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland
-
Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham
-
Director, Security and Risk and Reader in Politics and Ethics, University of Portsmouth
-
Professor (Emeritus) of Environmental Toxicology, University of Leeds
