AI in warfare

The Reith Lectures

BBC

Society & Culture, Science, Government, Technology

4.2 • 770 Ratings

🗓️ 8 December 2021

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Stuart Russell warns of the dangers of developing autonomous weapon systems - arguing for a system of global control. Weapons that locate, select, and engage human targets without human supervision are already available for use in warfare,. Some argue that AI will reduce collateral damage and civilian casualties. Others believe it could kill on a scale not seen since Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Will future wars be fought entirely by machines, or will one side surrender only when its real losses, military or civilian, become unacceptable? Professor Russell will examine the motivation of major powers developing these types of weapons, the morality of creating algorithms that decide to kill humans, and possible ways forward for the international community as it struggles with these questions.

Stuart Russell is Professor of Computer Science and founder of the Centre for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence at the University of California, Berkeley.

The lecture and question-and-answer session was recorded at Manchester University. Presenter: Anita Anand Producer: Jim Frank Editor: Hugh Levinson Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, it's Nicola Cocklin.
0:02.8	Young people have been making history for years, but we don't often hear about them.
0:06.6	My brand new series on BBC Sounds sets out to put this right.
0:10.6	In history's youngest heroes, I'll be revealing the fascinating stories of 12 young people
0:16.0	who've played a major role in history and who've helped shape our world.
0:19.8	Like Audrey Hepburn, Nelson Mandela, Louis Braille and Lady Jane Gray,
0:24.8	history's youngest heroes with me, Nicola Cochlin. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:31.4	BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts. Hello, I'm Stuart Russell,
0:39.2	and in my reflectures,
0:41.5	I'll be exploring what I think will be the most profound change in human history,
0:44.3	the eventual emergence of general purpose
0:47.1	artificial intelligence.
0:49.3	In this second lecture in my series,
0:51.8	I'll talk about the very urgent topic
0:53.8	of AI in warfare.
1:00.0	Welcome to the second Reith lecture with one of the world's leading authorities on artificial intelligence,
1:06.0	Professor Stuart Russell from the University of California at Berkeley.
1:11.6	Now today we're in the north of England, it's not quite California, but we are at the University
1:15.6	of Manchester in the magnificent neo-Gothic splendor of the Whitworth Hall. And we're going
1:21.6	to hear Stuart's ideas on the future role of AI in warfare. Now this, as you know, has been a subject for a very long time
1:30.9	that has taken up the vivid imagination of those who make films and write fiction.
1:36.6	How will the wars of the future be fought?
	...

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