Navy’s new laser weapon: Hype or reality?
Despite some stunning video, things may not be what they seem
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From nuclear bombs to killer robots: how amoral technologies become immoral weapons
Powerful countries wield the rhetoric of imminent security threats to rationalize unjust uses of new military technologies.
Will artificially intelligent weapons kill the laws of war?
As the history of unrestricted submarine warfare demonstrates, humanitarian motivations were ignored when observing those restrictions compromised combat effectiveness. It’s not unimaginable that a similar fate might await the laws of war when AI-enabled weapons become ubiquitous.
The incapacitating chemical agents loophole
Why the international community should focus on incapacitating chemical agents—aka knockout gas—at the upcoming Chemical Weapons Convention conference
Gene drives: The good, the bad, and the hype
It’s good to be cautious about any powerful new technology, but the best approach to Crispr and gene drives will be one based on empirical findings rather than hype.
Semi-autonomous and on their own: Killer robots in Plato’s Cave
To forestall threats from future killer robots, don’t ignore today’s “semi-autonomous” weapons
The critical human element in the machine age of warfare
As multiple militaries have begun to use AI to enhance their capabilities on the battlefield, several deadly mistakes have shown the risks of automation and semi-autonomous systems, even when human operators are notionally in the loop.
ISIS vs. Ebola
The United States has prioritized the wrong threat—to dangerous effect
The struggle to ban killer robots
The campaign against lethal autonomous weapons is making progress, but to succeed it will have to answer some questions, including: What distinguishes killer software from non-killer software?
Y-12: Poster child for a dysfunctional nuclear weapons complex
The Y-12 National Security Complex has not produced weapons for some 25 years, but its annual budgets have increased by nearly 50 percent since 1997. The dysfunction must end, sometime.
Cyber security at nuclear facilities: US-Russian joint support needed
The current political climate makes it difficult for the United States and Russia to cooperate on cyber security, but they can start by supporting other nations that have civilian nuclear facilities.
Why superintelligence is a threat that should be taken seriously
A prominent skeptic says that artificial intelligence is nothing to worry about. Here’s why he’s wrong.
Is artificial intelligence really an existential threat to humanity?
Superintelligence is propounding a solution that will not work to a problem that probably does not exist, but now is the time to take the ethical and policy implications of artificial intelligence seriously
Neuro, cyber, slaughter: Emerging technological threats in 2017
Looking back at our best coverage in 2017 of emerging technological threats.
Leave Iran’s missiles out of nuclear talks
Why negotiators in Vienna shouldn’t yet embark on dealing with Iran’s ballistic missiles.
After a historic nuclear agreement, challenges ahead for Iran
The deal reached in Vienna is a tremendous success, but Tehran still faces economic and political problems at home
What the Iran deal means for blacklisted entities
Sanctions relief is easier said than done. A lot easier.