The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology ranked 46th in the world in the QS World University Rankings and has 60 professors working in artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence researchers from across 30 countries have called for a boycott of a top South Korean university accusing it to collaborate to develop killer robots for war.
More than 50 leading academics have signed a letter which calls for the boycott of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and its partner, defence manufacturer Hanwha Systems.
It was reported in the South Korean media that both organisations are working to "develop artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to be applied to military weapons, joining the global competition to develop autonomous arms."
A specialised unit for the purpose, Research Centre for the Convergence of National Defence and Artificial Intelligence was recently opened at the KAIST.
“At a time when the United Nations is discussing how to contain the threat posed to international security by autonomous weapons, it is regrettable that a prestigious institution like KAIST looks to accelerate the arms race to develop such weapons,” academics said in the letter.
“We therefore publicly declare that we will boycott all collaborations with any part of KAIST until such time as the President of KAIST provides assurances, which we have sought but not received, that the Center will not develop autonomous weapons lacking meaningful human control.”
The researchers also declared that they would neither visit KAIST nor host visitors from KAIST nor contribute to any research project involving the University.
As the field of AI has developed, the fear of its misuse is also troubling world leaders and the academics. Tesla Motors and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk who has also invested in AI startups has time and again warned against it.
“If developed, autonomous weapons will be the third revolution in warfare. They will permit war to be fought faster and at a scale greater than ever before. They have the potential to be weapons of terror. Despots and terrorists could use them against innocent populations, removing any ethical restraints,” the letter further added.
In July 2015, thousands of AI researchers from around the world signed an open letter to the UN calling for a ban on offensive autonomous weapons beyond meaningful human control.
In August 2017, this was backed up by over one hundred founders of AI and robotics companies who signed a similar letter calling on the UN to act on the issue.
To date, 22 nations have called for a pre-emptive ban on autonomous weapons.