Restraining AI Weapons Might Be Impossible, Said Former US Secretary Of State

Artificial intelligent arms restraint is all about “fun and games” until someone inadvertently recreates Skynet.

There is a high possibility for an AI arms race to happen in the future as nations hurry to surpass one another. Recently, Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State expressed his concern about this risk. On Feb 28, while speaking at the opening ceremony of a computing school at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he forewarned that artificial intelligent weapons may become more challenging to restraint than the nuclear ones. Countries will secretly work on AI systems, which can lead to a hazardous arms race. “With AI, the other side’s ignorance is one of your best weapons—sharing will be much more difficult,” said Kissinger.

That is not the first time the controversial politician in the US foreign policy department has given a warning to the potential jeopardies of AI developments. In The Atlantic’s op-ed, Kissinger argued that it’s necessary for the government to “consider a presidential commission of eminent thinkers to help develop a national vision” on artificial intelligence. And he isn’t alone in that concern.

On February, a number of experts consisting of ethics professors as well as advocates of human rights demanded a prohibition on the progress of AI-controlled arms as there are plenty of questions left over the issue like “who is responsible when a machine decides to take a human life?”

However, countries persist to develop planes, bipedal androids, and tanks. Last month, the US president enacted an order urging the country to “prioritize AI”, for fear that America is outpaced by other states in AI progress.

Although AI has more good-natured applications, autonomy creeping into weapons has caused adverse reactions from the staffs of giant technology companies such as Microsoft and Google. The unknown future of AI might demand more of humanity’s consideration.