The answer to the above question, seems like a no-brainer. We obviously don't want a computer system (or multiple systems) to autonomously control the world's weapons, which could have grave unintended consequences.

Yet, we get to hear every now and then that one or the other country might be looking into developing AI systems that could more efficiently and effectively use their weapons arsenal, so that they can do away with their enemies.

AI systems all over the world have become very advanced in just the last few years and have become an integral part of human life in many different ways. We have them as virtual assistants, helping us drive our cars, in research, in medicine, in space and so on.

But using AI for weaponry seems to me like the beginning of a future that we have only seen in dystopian sci-fi movies. If we are not careful, that might actually become reality.

Skynet Becomes Real?

Letting AI drive your car or take care of your calender or even your home is one thing. But putting it in charge of weapons that can end human lives, is on a whole another level. A level, I don't think we should even think about reaching.

I mean think for a second. If an AI system of a country accidentally fires off a missile on another country due to a glitch or a hack or what have you, it could kill thousands of innocent people, maybe even more. Moreover, such a thing could be a start of the third world war.

And what if AI gains some sort of awareness and decides that all humans are its enemies and must be wiped off. Without access to weapons, it could be very difficult to do so, but with direct access to weapons, it would become a lot easier.

The scary part is that, as we progress further in the field of AI, we would have no idea how far along any particular country has come. This could lead to a silent and secretive arms race to make the perfect killing system, and that's not what we want to happen. Humanity's very existence might be on stake.