It won't be far-fetched from the truth, when we say that robotics and AI (Artificial Intelligence) are the current driving force of technological revolution in our world today. The conversations are mostly about robotic or AI ability/possibility or another. And today, we see a rise in such technology with virtually everything going towards that direction.
Maybe it's a matter of time before these get involved in the wars of men. Perhaps, that's already happening. We see drones already being used in war scenarios. Sci-fi movies have depicted a reality where robots are used to engage in the affairs of war. So, perhaps, it's a matter of time before that reality sets in.
With the rapid and instantaneous, continuous growth of robotic and AI technology, taking the duties of humans, we can presume that such a reality could be standing close by or far away in the future. But how about we leave the possibilities for now and consider the pros and cons of such a reality－a dispensation, age or time where robots and AI are the deployed troops in the wars of men?
Such a reality would mean that there will be fewer losses of lives in the events of war. This could bring relief to people who have their loved ones being deployed constantly or from time to time to war fronts. With the current tension that's in our world today, with power-hungry and power-grabbing leaders, war doesn't seem like something that could stop anytime soon. We can be sure that troops will keep getting deployed, some probably losing their lives.
Looking at the bright side of having robots and AI replace a lot of humans sent to the war fronts with their lives at stake, it would mean a lower mortality rate and more time and livelihood for such troops with their families. Nevertheless, I see a dark side to such evolution; the use of robots and AI in the wars of men. But I don't know if to say it poses a bigger threat, given the fact that I'm highly considering lives that could be saved from dying in war fronts.
There's a threat still, maybe bigger. I know I just spoke against that, but I presume a world where wars could go beyond wars, but endless battles and fights. Perhaps my imaginations are wild, I presume a situation where there's continuous growth and advancements in militarised AI and robotics, such that even in the face of a peace treaty, the thumbs down could be given. Of course, knowing there wouldn't be human casualties on their part, they wouldn't probably want to settle.
Yes, there's the consideration that fewer lives would be lost. That would be so if the technologies fight against each other. For a country like mine, the troops will suffer because I don't know when we might get to that level of advancement. And when a country has this technological upper hand, it takes away what is seemingly a “fair fight.” Also, what if such a country decides to use this upper hand to attack unarmed citizens in a deadly, dreadful quest?
Just saying though. Nevertheless, I find the idea of robots and AI getting deployed into the wars of men a kind of way to limit the loss of lives on the battlefield. But with technology; one spectacular as such, there are always far-reaching effects. And what if we just don't have any wars?
Images are AI generated.