The deployment of lethal autonomous weapons, commonly referred to as "killer robots," that can independently select human targets, is drawing closer to becoming a reality, according to a report by The New York Times. Countries such as the United States, China, and Israel are actively developing AI-controlled drones capable of making life and death battlefield decisions without human input.

Critics argue that the use of such technology marks a disturbing development, as it places the responsibility of determining who lives and who dies solely in the hands of machines. Consequently, several governments are urging the United Nations (UN) to implement a binding resolution that restricts the use of AI killer drones. However, the United States, Russia, Australia, and Israel are among the nations resisting such a move, instead favoring a non-binding resolution, as reported by The Times.

The Pentagon has divulged its intentions to deploy swarms of thousands of AI-enabled drones, as revealed in a notice earlier this year. This initiative aims to counterbalance China's superior size in weaponry and personnel within the People's Liberation Army (PLA), according to US Deputy Secretary of Defense, Kathleen Hicks, during a speech in August. Hicks emphasized that technology like AI-controlled drone swarms would enable the US to offset the PLA's numerical advantage.

Frank Kendall, the Air Force secretary, stated that AI drones will require the capability to make lethal decisions while operating under human supervision, as reported by The Times. This indicates that even if the AI has the autonomy to select targets, there would still be human oversight.

The New Scientist added to the discourse in October by reporting that Ukraine has allegedly deployed AI-controlled drones on the battlefield against the Russian invasion. However, it remains uncertain whether any of these drones have taken any action resulting in human casualties.

The development and deployment of AI-controlled killer drones are raising significant concerns globally. Discussions continue at the UN, where some governments call for binding resolutions to restrict their use, while others argue for non-binding resolutions. The balance between harnessing technological advancements for strategic advantage and ensuring ethical decision-making remains a contentious point in the ongoing conversation surrounding the use of AI in warfare.