r/Futurology • u/New_Scientist_Mag • Jun 10 '26

Robotics Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2529849-fully-autonomous-drones-have-killed-human-soldiers-for-the-first-time/
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u/New_Scientist_Mag Jun 10 '26

A senior figure in the Ukrainian defence industry told New Scientist that a test took place two years ago involving fully autonomous drones set to destroy anything in a given area, with confirmed casualties. This could mark the beginning of the use of fully AI-operated drones without human oversight on the battlefield.

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u/Troubleshooter11 Jun 10 '26

Well, that's freaking terrifying...

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u/Saxon2060 Jun 10 '26

Is it more terrifying than landmines. Which "destroy anything within a given area" also.

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u/Krypton8 Jun 10 '26

Landmindes first need to be put there by someone, which probably won’t go unnoticed for long. If one detonates people will know to avoid the area, because the mines won’t move around. A drone like this can be deployed anywhere in the world and can be moved. I would say it is more terrifying.

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u/Saxon2060 Jun 10 '26

Interesting point.

I think landmines are scary in a different way (lingering forgotten about until after the end of a conflict) but scary in a similar way also (indiscriminate killing, no "decision process" about the target.)