The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for a global moratorium on the development and deployment of fully autonomous lethal weapons systems, marking the first time the international body has formally addressed the issue of so-called killer robots.
What the Resolution Covers
The non-binding resolution urges all member states to halt the development of weapons systems that can select and engage targets without meaningful human control. It calls for the negotiation of a binding international treaty that would establish clear rules governing the use of AI and autonomy in military applications.
Machines that decide who lives and who dies cross a fundamental moral line. This resolution is a first step toward ensuring that line is never crossed.
Major military powers abstained from the vote, citing concerns that a moratorium could disadvantage their forces relative to adversaries who might not comply.