In a shocking turn of events, a military drone in the Libyan capital of Tripoli has reportedly autonomously attacked a human being for the first time. According to a report by the United Nations (UN), a Kargu-2 drone manufactured by Turkish company STM attacked a unit retreating from a battle between Libyan government troops and a rogue military faction in 2020. If the UN’s information is correct, this would be the first attack on a human being worldwide where the weapon was not specifically controlled. The Kargu-2 drones are known as “loitering weapons” that are launched without a specific target and are usually directed by humans on the ground. However, the software of the Kargu-2 drones can learn to identify targets autonomously based on collected data.
The UN report states that the drones, which are equipped with an explosive charge, are therefore considered deadly autonomous weapons. However, some experts doubt that the attack on the convoy was actually autonomous, meaning that a decision was made independently by artificial intelligence (AI) without human commands. “It is likely the first incident where drones have attacked humans without instruction,” said Zak Kellenborn, an expert in unmanned weapons systems. The incident is being critically discussed internationally because the use of such weapons can never rule out the possibility of attacking the wrong targets.
The development of autonomous weapons has been a topic of concern for many years, with experts warning of the potential dangers of AI making decisions that could lead to unintended consequences. The UN has been calling for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons, but progress has been slow. This incident highlights the urgent need for international regulations to be put in place to prevent the use of such weapons and to ensure that human control is maintained over the use of force. The implications of this incident are far-reaching and could have serious consequences for the future of warfare.
