Killer robots

THE Campaign To Stop killer robots is calling for a ban on autonomous weapon systems.

It amazes me that so many eminent scientists seem unable to understand that such technology is a certainty and is impossible to ban.

The technology that enables a robot to look at a pensioner and know they want a cup of tea will also allow it to identify military targets. Technology hackers can take a simple camera and a Nerf gun, hook them up to a computer and make a device that will shoot darts at intruders.

Self-driving cars, robot arms used in surgeory and computer programs that play go, the Japanese board game that teaches military strategy, all use technology that can be adapted for warfare.

any robot able to use tools and equipment could be converted for military use simply by giving it a gun and altering its software.

The only solution to preventing autonomous weapon systems from killing people is simply to not fight wars in the first place. TIM PEErS, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk.