Concerns Over Killer Robot Development Lead to Sanctions Against South Korean University

On Wednesday, over 50 senior artificial intelligence experts sanctioned a major scientific center in South Korea for establishing a laboratory related to the production of weaponized artificial intelligence. According to Reuters, these experts and researchers, from 30 different countries, stated that they will no longer visit this university or the Advanced Institute of Science and Technology known as KAIST, will not accept its researchers, and will not collaborate with its research programs. The researchers emphasize the need to avoid producing weaponized artificial intelligence without real human control. The main concern of the researchers who signed this statement is the lack of real human control over weapons that operate with artificial intelligence. Part of the statement reads: "If weapons are produced that operate independently without human control, conditions will be created for the acceleration and expansion of war on an unprecedented scale. They could potentially become tools for assassination and terror." In another section of the statement, referencing past successful arms bans, the Advanced Institute of Science and Technology of South Korea is urged to prohibit the production of any lethal autonomous weapons and to refrain from applying artificial intelligence technology in ways that are harmful to humans. This statement comes ahead of a meeting on Monday in Geneva with the participation of 123 member countries of the United Nations, which is set to examine the application of artificial intelligence technology in weaponry or, as critics call it, "killer robots." KAIST quickly responded to this statement. The university president opposed the sanctions, stating that the laboratory "will not engage in the production of autonomous weapons or killer robots in any way." He added that the university is fully aware of the ethical concerns regarding artificial intelligence and "we reiterate that KAIST will not conduct any research that contradicts human dignity, including in the field of automated weapons without real human control." The university announced that the new research center will focus on integrating national defense and artificial intelligence in areas such as command and control systems, navigation, autonomous submarines, aviation training, intelligent aerial reconnaissance, and object tracking. Reuters adds that the experts who signed the sanction statement are not convinced. Toby Walsh, a professor at an Australian university who is the initiator and organizer of this sanction, stated that the rapid response of the South Korean university has been a success, but before lifting this sanction, they need to speak with all signatories of the statement. He added: "The Advanced Institute of Science and Technology of South Korea has retreated in two important areas: one is the non-production of autonomous weapons, and the other is ensuring real human control over robots." Nevertheless, Professor Walsh said it is unclear how they can ensure real human control over an autonomous submarine underwater, which is one of the research center's projects. He stated that the use of robots and artificial intelligence in the military can potentially have numerous advantages, such as using robots instead of humans for mine clearance. "But we should not leave the decision about who should live or die to a machine. This crosses a very clear ethical line. Robots should not be allowed to decide on life and death."