Quote:One could debate the overall merits or failings of robotic systems, but one area that clearly has become a point for concern on all sides is the idea of "killer robots." According to robotics pioneer, David Hanson, we are on a collision course with exponential growth in computing and technology that might only give us a "few years" to counter this scenario.

Elon Musk is the latest to proclaim the magnitude of the threat following a reading of Nick Bostrom's book Superintelligence, stating that robots infused with advanced artificial intelligence are "potentially more dangerous than nukes." Stephen Hawking has said much the same, and universities such as Cambridge have said that "terminators" are one of the greatest threats to mankind according to their study program Centre for the Study of Existential Risk.

The above sources do not reflect Luddites and conspiracy-minded individuals. This has led to international human rights groups and concerned citizens to launch a Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. It is a topic being taken up by the United Nations and even the U.S. military itself.