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Google drops pledge not to use AI for weapons or surveillance

(www.washingtonpost.com)
617 points jbegley | 3 comments | 04 Feb 25 20:28 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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olalonde ◴[05 Feb 25 02:22 UTC] No.42942797[source]▶
That feels like PR / virtue signaling. AI has the potential to significantly reduce the human cost of war in two ways: by removing soldiers from direct combat and by enabling precision strikes which minimize collateral damage. Over time, robot-soldiers will surpass human effectiveness, making it increasingly irrational to send people into harm's way. In that world, conflicts would shift toward being decided by technological superiority - who has the better or more advanced systems - rather than by which side has more human lives to sacrifice. We could even see one day wars with no human casualties.
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1. oneplane ◴[05 Feb 25 02:25 UTC] No.42942825[source]▶
AI can also be used to say "it wasn't us, the computer did that" and pretend it's not your fault when you kill a bunch of civilians.

As for sending people in harm's way: if that were the effect, it would only apply to those "with AI". In essence, AI becomes a weapon you use to threaten someone with war since your own cost will be low and their cost will be high.

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2. olalonde ◴[05 Feb 25 02:36 UTC] No.42942938[source]▶
> AI can also be used to say "it wasn't us, the computer did that" and pretend it's not your fault when you kill a bunch of civilians.

Not really, though. Like any tool, its misuse or failure is the responsibility of the wielder.

> As for sending people in harm's way: if that were the effect, it would only apply to those "with AI". In essence, AI becomes a weapon you use to threaten someone with war since your own cost will be low and their cost will be high.

Agree about that part but that's just the nature of war, there are always going to be armies that are scarier than others.

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3. jhanschoo ◴[05 Feb 25 03:27 UTC] No.42943329[source]▶
> > AI can also be used to say "it wasn't us, the computer did that" and pretend it's not your fault when you kill a bunch of civilians.

I don't think the entities that are using it in this way care.

https://www.statnews.com/2023/03/13/medicare-advantage-plans...

https://www.hfma.org/revenue-cycle/denials-management/health...

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24151437/ai-israel-gaza-w...