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π Science and technology π Geopolitics

Killer robots: should we be afraid?

5 episodes

1

Is the use of autonomous weapons inevitable?
2

Automation, the third revolution in warfare
3

Can we justify the rise in military robots?
4

Military ground robots: a technological shift?
5

Military drones: current trends in the market

Épisode 1/5

Is the use of autonomous weapons inevitable?

With Richard Robert, Journalist and Author

On November 9th, 2021

3min reading time

Key takeaways

Certain NGOs and governments have attempted to obtain a ban on killer robots in campaigns such as Stop Killer Robots.
Arguments include dehumanisation, algorithmic bias, and lack of understanding by machines of the consequences of their actions.
However, rapid spread of these weapons systems would seem to have side-lined these discussions, leading to a robotic arms race.
Nevertheless, the idea that some form of human control is required, remains central to current discussions.

Épisode 2/5

Automation, the third revolution in warfare

With Richard Robert, Journalist and Author

On November 9th, 2021

3min reading time

Key takeaways

Some experts consider autonomous weapons to be the third revolution in warfare technology, after gunpowder and the nuclear bomb.
The automation of weapon systems began decades ago. Advances in mobility and the interpretation of environmental information now give them a high degree of autonomy.
Development of drones is still ahead of “infantry” robots, which face considerable technical challenges.
In their armed version, these systems are mainly used on physical targets. Their use for lethal means is driving ethical debates, but the arms race has already begun.

Épisode 3/5

Can we justify the rise in military robots?

With Richard Robert, Journalist and Author

On November 9th, 2021

4min reading time

Alan Wagner

Assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and research associate in the Rock Ethics Institute

Key takeaways

In theory, robotic soldiers don’t get emotional, or revengeful, or angry. But the possibility of an accident raises issues of responsibility and liability, which are of great importance in military matters.
Increased autonomy thanks to AI, as well as maximised lethality, raises a philosophical problem: is the prospect of human soldiers facing bloodless, incredibly efficient machines acceptable?
But future autonomous systems might be perfect at targeting, so such a “precise” war would be less bloody.
Advances in precision warfare might also drive a new kind of dissuasion.

Épisode 4/5

Military ground robots: a technological shift?

With Richard Robert, Journalist and Author

On November 9th, 2021

3min reading time

David Filliat

Professor at ENSTA Paris (IP Paris)

Key takeaways

Ground robots pose specific technical challenges, especially in the field of mobility.
Full autonomy on the battlefield is out of reach for the moment.
But progress is rapid, particularly because these are dual technologies, which are not developed specifically for the military.

Épisode 5/5

Military drones: current trends in the market

On October 11th, 2022

5 min reading time

Laure Colin

PhD student at the Centre for Management Research (I³-CRG*) at Ecole Polytechnique (IP Paris)

Key takeaways

The drone market is growing rapidly in large part due to the high demand for drones in military applications.
Although it has long been dominated by the United States and Israel, new players are entering the market such as Turkey and Iran.
It is estimated that more than 80 countries now have military drones: armed or surveillance.
The market is currently driven by civilian drones, which are mass-market, low-cost and can easily be adapted for military use.
The rapid development of drones is giving rise to new challenges: autonomy, connectivity, and cybersecurity.

Contributors

Richard Robert

Journalist and Author

Richard Robert is editorial director of Telos and conducts forward-looking research as part of the Observatoire du long terme (Long-Term Observatory) and the Institut de prospective CentraleSupélec Alumni (CentraleSupélec Alumni Institute for Forward-Looking Studies). From 2012 to 2018, he was editor-in-chief of the Paris Innovation Review. His latest books include: Le Social et le Politique (The Social and the Political), with Guy Groux and Martial Foucault, CNRS Éditions, 2020; La Valse européenne (The European Waltz), with Elie Cohen, Fayard, 2021; Une brève histoire du droit d’auteur (A Brief History of Copyright), with Jean-Baptiste Rendu, Flammarion, 2024; Les Nouvelles Dimensions du partage de la valeur (The New Dimensions of Value Sharing), with Erell Thevenon-Poullennec, PUF, 2024; Les Imaginaires sociaux des smart cities (The Social Imaginaries of Smart Cities), Presses des Mines, 2025. Forthcoming: Sauver la démocratie sociale (Saving Social Democracy), with Gilbert Cette and Guy Groux, Calmann-Lévy, coll. ‘Liberté de l'esprit’ (Freedom of Thought), 2026.