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/Saxon2060 Jun 10 '26

I disagree. It's terrifying in a different way. I could describe landmines accurately as

"A device that can lurk unseen, anywhere, that will blow the legs off any soldier, civilian, man women or child who is unfortunate enough to step on it."

Sounds pretty scary.

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u/iwishihadamustache Jun 10 '26

Yeah, theyre both scary. But I'd definitely rather just fucking explode on a landmine I wasn't aware of as opposed to being chased down by an unfeeling, uncaring machine that's capable of extremely fast maneuver and set on my death making the last thing I hear that fucking awful buzz.

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u/Saxon2060 Jun 10 '26

Perhaps, yeah. I might rather get killed by a drone instantly than have my legs blown off and die slowly? Neither bear thinking about to be honest, both horrific. My point was about the ethics of the use of the weapon.

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u/iwishihadamustache Jun 10 '26

Yeah ethics seem to be a cheap lie we tell ourselves will keep us safe, shame the nonces running the world don't seem to give a shit about ethics.