Publication

This report presents the findings of a one-year study on the development of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS). More specifically, it addresses 1) the technological foundations of autonomy; 2) the state of autonomy in existing weapon systems; 3) the drivers of, and obstacles to, increased autonomy in weapon systems; and 4) key innovations that lie behind the advance of autonomy in weapon systems. The text concludes with a series of recommendations on how the newly formed United Nations Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) could help facilitate constructive debate on LAWS, including that related to the monitoring and regulation of this emerging technology’s development.