OMNI WAR WATCH WEDNESDAYS, #146, OCTOBER 4, 2023

Robert Weissman, “AI ADDS TO NUCLEAR DANGER: A Note from Public Citizen.”   Public Citizen   9-26-23 .

One thing I didn’t mention in my note that is a new area of work for us: artificial intelligence (AI) and the military. Specifically, we’re looking at the frightening prospect of AI-operated weapons autonomously deciding to use lethal force, without human intervention. The most extreme threat, of course, would be empowering AI systems to launch nuclear weapons. Current Pentagon policy requires human authorization of lethal force, but it’s not currently required as a matter of law. We’re supporting legislation by Rep. Ted Lieu, which would prohibit the use of nuclear weapons without human intervention, as one piece of a broader effort on the topic. We’re also currently working on an important research report on AI companies lobbying to get a bigger share of the Pentagon budget – a play that I think will inevitably lead to lobbying for AI authority to use lethal force. We’ll keep you apprised about this work.