autonomous weapons systems
Coverage of autonomous weapons systems in the Nexus archive.
- The Pentagon’s Autonomous Weapons Definitions Don’t Need an Overhaul, They Need an Update
The Pentagon is updating DoD Directive 3000.09 to clarify definitions of autonomous weapons systems amid inconsistent terminology and operational challenges. The White House has directed a 90-day review to align AI use in warfare with American values, addressing disputes like the Pentagon-Anthropic conflict over AI model applications.
- Pope Leo warns AI risks becoming tool of 'domination, exclusion and death' in new encyclical
Pope Leo's new encyclical 'Magnifica Humanitas' warns AI could become a tool of 'domination, exclusion and death' without moral oversight. The Vatican emphasizes the need for governance rooted in human dignity, comparing AI risks to nuclear energy and autonomous weapons, while referencing historical parallels like the Industrial Revolution.
- Human vs. Machine: Operational Realities from Ukraine’s Frontline
Ukraine's deployment of autonomous weapons systems on the battlefield reveals that human-in-the-loop safeguards are becoming meaningless when target volumes and engagement tempo exceed human operators' cognitive and biological capacity. The country faces severe manpower shortages with 200,000 troops AWOL and units operating at 30-60% strength, while facing relentless Russian drone attacks that killed 70% of some brigades' operators. This operational reality is pushing Ukraine toward increasingly autonomous military systems despite ongoing normative debates about human control.