Open to Debate Wartime Kill Switch: Human or AI?
4 snips
Oct 3, 2025 
Laura Walker McDonald highlights the need for human control in warfare to protect civilians and ensure accountability. Michael C. Horowitz argues that AI can enhance compliance with humanitarian law and reduce emotional mistakes. Elliot Ackerman emphasizes the moral implications of war and the necessity for ethical leadership. Meanwhile, Jack Shanahan discusses the inevitability of autonomous systems and the importance of human oversight throughout the AI lifecycle. Together, they delve into the complex debate over the roles of humans and AI in modern warfare.
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IHL Demands Human Control
- International Humanitarian Law requires meaningful human control and judgment over the use of force.
- Laura Walker McDonald warns ceding life-and-death decisions to software removes empathy, restraint, and moral responsibility.
AI Can Reduce Human Error
- AI-enabled systems can improve compliance with international humanitarian law by reducing human errors like stress-driven mistakes.
- Michael C. Horowitz argues tested autonomy can increase battlefield effectiveness and humanitarian outcomes.
War Is A Human Contest
- Elliot Ackerman emphasizes war's enduring character as a contest between human wills shaped by moral and political factors.
- He argues moral leadership and legal frameworks matter as much as technological advantage.
