logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2021
22m 59s

Are ‘killer robots’ the future of warfar...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Could humans ever trust machines with the power to make life or death decisions on the battlefield? And have we already begun to?

Advances in artificial intelligence are slowly creeping into almost every aspect of the world, including warfare. Suzanne Kianpour explores the technology, fears and even potential advantages of developing autonomous weapons.

Producers: Nathan Gower and Viv Jones

(Mock-up of the IAI Harop Drone, a loitering munition. Credit: Aviation-images.com/Getty Images)

Up next
Yesterday
How did Italian politics become stable?
Italy has long been associated with political instability, with governments on average lasting just over a year.Current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has broken that pattern. Her government has become the longest continuously serving administration in post-war Italian history, su ... Show More
24m 6s
Sep 15
Can China’s polar silk road change global trade?
Conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global shipping routes including the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca. China is now turning to Russia for support in developing an alternative trade path: the Northern Sea Route. On 15 August, China sent its first ship on ... Show More
24m 25s
Sep 8
Can Africa take control of its digital future?
Just under 20 years ago Kenya pioneered the use of mobile money. Since then, other countries in Africa have carved out a share of the digital market for themselves, from gaming in Morocco to artificial intelligence in Tunisia. But the picture is not the same across the whole cont ... Show More
24m 24s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2020
Killer Robots and the Future of War
Fully autonomous lethal weapons—robots that can select and engage targets without human intervention—are fast becoming possible. They might minimize casualties and protect civilians in times of war. But is it morally wrong to put a computer in charge of life or death decisions? C ... Show More
1h 3m
Jul 2024
The Era of Killer Robots Is Here
<p>Outmanned and outgunned in what has become a war of attrition against Russia, Ukraine has looked for any way to overcome its vulnerabilities on the battlefield. That search has led to the emergence of killer robots.</p><p>Paul Mozur, the global technology correspondent for The ... Show More
26m 9s
Jun 2025
Drone wars
An ominous buzzing in the sky. Swarms of killer AI drones. Fields of fiberoptic grass. The weird future of drone warfare is here. The conflict in Ukraine has proven to be a testing ground for the next generation of weaponry. How will the proliferation of these small, cheap device ... Show More
20m 46s
Jul 2024
An officer and a gen AI: the future of war
<p>Artificial intelligence is already <a href="https://www.economist.com/briefing/2024/06/20/how-ai-is-changing-warfare?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listener ... Show More
26m 43s
Oct 2023
War, AI and the new global arms race | Alexandr Wang
Lethal drones with facial recognition, armed robots, autonomous fighter jets: we're at the dawn of a new age of AI-powered warfare, says technologist Alexandr Wang. He explores why data will be the secret weapon in this uncharted landscape and emphasizes the need to consider nati ... Show More
12m 28s
Jun 2023
Friend or Foe? Robots and A.I.
Technology is advancing faster than we can keep up with, but are those advances to the betterment of society, or the detriment? Are the robots coming for all our jobs? Will A.I. takeover the world? The Daily Show News Team get answers to those big questions in this throwback comp ... Show More
29m 2s
Jul 2023
War, AI and the new global arms race | Alexandr Wang
Lethal drones with facial recognition, armed robots, autonomous fighter jets: we're at the dawn of a new age of AI-powered warfare, says technologist Alexandr Wang. He explores why data will be the secret weapon in this uncharted landscape and emphasizes the need to consider nati ... Show More
10m 15s
Feb 2023
Welcome to AI Warfare
AI isn’t just changing search. It’s changing national security, too. Today, Kara talks to Trae’ Stephens, the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Anduril, about how the growing defense tech industry is using the power of AI and the speed of Silicon Valley to challenge “beltway b ... Show More
51m 20s