The advancement of technology related to unmanned aerial vehicles controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) is raising serious ethical and strategic concerns on the international stage. According to reports from The New York Times, the United States, China, Israel, and other countries are actively working on developing so-called "killer robots," machines capable of making decisions to eliminate human targets without direct human oversight.

Critics of this technology express concerns that entrusting machines with life-and-death decisions on the battlefield may lead to disturbing consequences. They emphasize that autonomous weapon systems, making decisions without human intervention, pose a risk of violating ethical principles and international law.

According to a Pentagon report, the United States is actively working on deploying artificially intelligent drones that can operate in swarms. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks highlighted that technologies like AI-controlled drone swarms could help the U.S. balance the numerical advantage of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China in terms of both weapons and personnel. Hicks stated that the American "mass" would be more challenging to target and defeat.

Frank Kendall, Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, pointed to the necessity of equipping drones with AI capable of autonomously making decisions to engage targets. This underscores the strategic need to adapt to the modern battlefield, where the speed and effectiveness of decisions can determine the outcome of a conflict. Kendall emphasizes that refraining from such actions could give an advantage to adversaries.

This technological development raises questions about the accountability of autonomous weapon systems and their impact on the future conduct of warfare. The challenges associated with integrating "killer robots" into defense structures are both technical and moral, posing difficult questions for decision-makers about the limits of utilizing AI technology in the realm of defense.