Author: Patrick Taylor Smith (July 23, 2018 – Springer Link)
The paper contends that it is ethical for computer scientists and engineers to develop lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) for militaries adhering to the laws of war. This is permissible if the new weapons system offers a better risk profile for all morally relevant groups and is not intrinsically wrong. LAWS could improve force protection, reduce war crimes motivated by malice, and objections based on human dignity and responsibility gaps are unfounded.