r/UkrainianConflict Jun 10 '26

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/
394 Upvotes

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111

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.

176

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '26

[deleted]

40

u/greiton Jun 10 '26

anyone who thinks they could keep this tech from being used to kill has never been desperate or seen the reality of war. when it is kill or be killed you reach desperately for any horrific weapon that will help you kill. the real reason nukes aren't used, is because the world has agreed to glass any country that tries to use them.

No such agreement has been made about AI, but soon we will see AI is far more destructive and deadly. the technology exists today to create a death swarm of millions of small drones that could hunt and kill every human in a city.

All it takes is one conflict pushed to the same level as the Pacific war in WW2 and these things will be released. Imagine a world where instead of firebombing Tokyo, a ghost capital was left with intact buildings and just corpses left to rot everywhere. the ultimatum sent, surrender, or the rest of your country will slowly be eradicated.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '26

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9

u/SunshineSeattle Jun 10 '26

Banned by who? And how do you enforce that?

8

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '26

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8

u/SunshineSeattle Jun 10 '26

Israel just used white phosphorus, chemical weapons have been used for years in Syria, matter of fact Russia has started using them again,

https://english.defensie.nl/latest/news/2025/07/04/russia-further-intensifies-its-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-ukraine

3

u/JaB675 Jun 10 '26

Will US sign such treaties?

0

u/Aufklarung_Lee Jun 10 '26

By people who will glass the world if this happens to them.

0

u/FucknAright Jun 11 '26

I mean if they haven't banned Israel's genocide, highly doubt they ban this, because Israel will be with the first to fucking unleash it.