Frank Kendall, former US Air Force Secretary, argues that international efforts to ban lethal autonomous weapons are likely ineffective and potentially misguided. In his book, “Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare Whether We Like It Or Not,” Kendall asserts that defining the boundary between acceptable defensive systems and banned offensive ones is technically impossible. Because many weapons serve both roles, he suggests that attempting to prohibit specific technologies or levels of autonomy creates an unenforceable regime. The author highlights that the core of the problem lies in the digital trigger—the mechanism that authorizes an engagement—which can be easily concealed or modified within software to operate autonomously.

Kendall questions the logic of preferring human combatants over machine systems, suggesting that if society must accept the reality of conflict, automating lethal functions could arguably reduce human suffering. Rather than pursuing a prohibition on autonomous technology, he proposes that the international community should focus on accountability under existing laws of armed conflict. He advocates for holding designers, military operators, and political decision-makers strictly liable for unlawful conduct. Under this framework, nations would be required to implement rigorous testing and verification protocols, similar to current airworthiness certification standards, to ensure systems comply with established legal limits on violence.

The author notes that the development of lethal autonomy is inevitable, driven by rapid advancements in target recognition and other artificial intelligence capabilities. Current military initiatives within the US and efforts by DARPA (a government agency focused on emerging military technologies) indicate that progress toward fully autonomous systems is accelerating. Kendall observes that major powers are likely to continue developing these capabilities regardless of ethical concerns, as liberal democracies fear being outpaced by less principled adversaries. Ultimately, he suggests that the focus should shift toward reevaluating collateral damage standards and establishing legal accountability, acknowledging that expendable unmanned systems are already becoming a requirement for tactical advantage, as demonstrated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Frank Kendall, former US Air Force Secretary, argues that international efforts to ban lethal autonomous weapons are likely ineffective and potentially misguided. In his book, “Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare Whether We Like It Or Not,” Kendall asserts that defining the boundary between acceptable defensive systems and banned offensive ones is technically impossible. Because many weapons serve both roles, he suggests that attempting to prohibit specific technologies or levels of autonomy creates an unenforceable regime. The author highlights that the core of the problem lies in the digital trigger—the mechanism that authorizes an engagement—which can be easily concealed or modified within software to operate autonomously.

Kendall questions the logic of preferring human combatants over machine systems, suggesting that if society must accept the reality of conflict, automating lethal functions could arguably reduce human suffering. Rather than pursuing a prohibition on autonomous technology, he proposes that the international community should focus on accountability under existing laws of armed conflict. He advocates for holding designers, military operators, and political decision-makers strictly liable for unlawful conduct. Under this framework, nations would be required to implement rigorous testing and verification protocols, similar to current airworthiness certification standards, to ensure systems comply with established legal limits on violence.

The author notes that the development of lethal autonomy is inevitable, driven by rapid advancements in target recognition and other artificial intelligence capabilities. Current military initiatives within the US and efforts by DARPA (a government agency focused on emerging military technologies) indicate that progress toward fully autonomous systems is accelerating. Kendall observes that major powers are likely to continue developing these capabilities regardless of ethical concerns, as liberal democracies fear being outpaced by less principled adversaries. Ultimately, he suggests that the focus should shift toward reevaluating collateral damage standards and establishing legal accountability, acknowledging that expendable unmanned systems are already becoming a requirement for tactical advantage, as demonstrated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.