Genius Weapons – Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Weaponry, and the Future of Warfare

Artificial intelligence is playing an ever-increasing role in military weapon systems. Going beyond the bomb-carrying drones used in the Afghan war, the Pentagon is now in a race with China and Russia to develop “lethal autonomous weapon systems” (LAWS).

In this eye-opening overview, a physicist, technology expert, and former Honeywell executive examines the advantages and the potential threats to humanity resulting from the deployment of completely autonomous weapon systems.

Stressing the likelihood that these weapons will be available in the coming decades, the author raises key questions about how the world will be impacted. A modern MQ-9 Reaper drone.

Though using robotic systems might lessen military casualties in a conflict, one major concern is: Should we allow machines to make life-and-death decisions in battle? Other areas of concern include the following: Who would be accountable for the actions of completely autonomous weapons–the programmer, the machine itself, or the country that deploys LAWS?

When warfare becomes just a matter of technology, will war become more probable, edging humanity closer to annihilation? What if AI technology reaches a “singularity level” so that our weapons are controlled by an intelligence exceeding human intelligence? A BAE Systems Corax during flight testing.

Using vivid scenarios that immerse the reader in the ethical dilemmas and existential threats posed by lethal autonomous weapon systems, the book reveals that the dystopian visions of such movies as The Terminator and I, Robot may become a frightening reality in the near future. The author concludes with concrete recommendations, founded in historical precedent, to control this new arms race. Roboteam’s tactical robotic platforms. Photo: Robobotics – CC BY-SA 4.0

Louis A. Del Monte an award-winning physicist, inventor, futurist, and featured speaker, is the CEO of Del Monte and Associates, and a high-profile media personality. For over thirty years, he was a leader in the development of microelectronics and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for IBM and Honeywell.

His patents and technology developments, currently used by Honeywell, IBM, and Samsung, are fundamental to the fabrication of integrated circuits and sensors. The recipient of the H. W. Sweatt Award for scientific engineering achievement and the Lund Award for management excellence, he is the author of Nanoweapons and four other books. Book cover.

Genius Weapons – Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Weaponry, and the Future of Warfare

Louis A. Del Monte

ISBN 978-1-63388-452-6

320 pages

On Sale Date: November 6, 2018