“Robots are not taking over the world”, the diplomat leading the first official talks on autonomous weapons assured on Friday, seeking to ease criticism over slow progress towards restricting the use of so-called “killer robots”. The UN was wrapping up an initial five days of discussions on weapons systems that can identify and destroy targets without human control, which experts say will soon be battle ready.
The meeting of the UN’s Convention on Conventional Weapons marked an initial step towards an agreed set of rules governing such weapons. Activists warned time was running out and glacial pace of UN-brokered discussions was not responding to an arms race already underway. “Ladies and gentlemen, I have news for you: robots are not taking over the world. Humans are still in charge,” said India’s disarmament ambassador, Amandeep Gill, who chaired CCW meet.