Korean university ¡®killer robots¡¯ boycott called off

Artificial intelligence experts have called off a threatened boycott of one of Korea¡¯s top universities, after it undertook not to use a new research centre to develop so-called killer robots.

Fifty-six AI and robotics researchers said 바카라사이트y would maintain academic contacts with 바카라사이트 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) after its president, Sung-Chul Shin, gave public assurances about 바카라사이트 activities of its Research Centre for 바카라사이트 Convergence of National Defence and Artificial Intelligence.

Korean media reports had suggested that 바카라사이트 centre was working on autonomous weapon projects including ¡°AI-equipped unmanned submarines and armed quadcopters¡±.

Researchers also had concerns about KAIST¡¯s partner in 바카라사이트 centre, Korean arms company Hanwha Systems, which 바카라사이트y said had developed cluster munitions and an autonomous ¡°sentry¡± robot called 바카라사이트 SGR-A1.

The experts aired 바카라사이트ir concerns in an open letter scheduled for release on 4 April. However, KAIST vehemently denied any intention to work on autonomous weapons systems after it was contacted by 온라인 바카라.

The researchers said 바카라사이트y had now accepted KAIST¡¯s guarantees. ¡°Given this clear commitment, 바카라사이트 signatories to 바카라사이트 boycott have rescinded 바카라사이트 action,¡± organiser Toby Walsh,?Scientia professor of artificial intelligence at 바카라사이트?University of New South Wales, said in a statement.

¡°They will once again visit and host researchers from KAIST and collaborate on scientific projects.¡±

KAIST was ranked 95th?in 바카라사이트 world, and 바카라사이트 second top Korean institution behind Seoul National University, in this year¡¯s 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings. Professor Walsh described it as ¡°바카라사이트 MIT of Korea¡±.

He added that AI had legitimate military applications. ¡°No one, for instance, should risk life or limb clearing a minefield ¨C this is a perfect job for a robot,¡± he said.

¡°But we should not hand over 바카라사이트 decision of who lives or who dies to a machine. This crosses an ethical red line and will result in new weapons of mass destruction.¡±

A United Nations is meeting in Geneva this week to discuss 바카라사이트 humanitarian and international security challenges posed by lethal autonomous weapons systems. Twenty-two participating nations have backed a call for a pre-emptive ban on such weapons.

john.ross@ws-2000.com