Ethics of Autonomous Weapons Systems: human-machine relations at an inflection point, challenges and possible solutions for ethical, responsible and human-rights-based technology development

This #TechDiplomacyTalk aims to shed light on the current state of international debate about autonomous weapon systems by looking specifically at their risks and challenges from the ethical perspective complementing profound concerns from the legal, humanitarian and security angles. The Panel will address the need for international regulation and the role that various constituencies play for this debate and the ways to engage them.

Programme

• Welcome by Claudia Reinprecht, Focal Point TechDiplomacy Austrian MFA
• Introductory speech by Director Amb. Alexander KMENTT
• Panel discussion, moderated by Claudia Reinprecht:
  • Elisabeth Hoffberger-Pippan (Peace Research Institute Frankfurt): What is autonomy in weapons systems and what are the specific challenges in technical, legal and ethical terms of these systems?
  • Erich Prem (University of Vienna): Ethical and Philosophical Issues in Human-Autonomous Systems Cooperation in Military Context
  • Anja Kaspersen (IEEE): a tech community perspective: how do developers of AI systems see the challenges?

Registration

The capacity for participants is limited. You can register until Monday, April 9, 2024, by contacting abtiii9@bmeia.gv.at.

Background

Technological breakthroughs in the field of artificial intelligence are leading to far-reaching changes in all industries and spheres of life. One particular development concerns the increasing autonomy in defence and military technology leading also to the development of autonomous weapons systems (AWS). AWS are understood as weapons that once activated select and apply force to a target without further human intervention. They raise profound legal, security but also ethical questions regarding the role of the human, the human-machine relation, human control and accountability. This #TechDiplomacyTalk aims to shed light on the current state of international debate about autonomous weapon systems by looking specifically at their risks and challenges from the ethical perspective complementing profound concerns from the legal, humanitarian and security angles. The Panel will address the need for international regulation and the role that various constituencies play for this debate and the ways to engage them.

The event is a warm up to the International Conference organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), entitled “Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation”, that will take place on 29 and 30 April 2024 in Vienna. The Conference aims to further advance the debate on an international regulation of AWS and to provide substantive input that could be useful for States’ and other stakeholders’ submissions to the report by the United Nations Secretary General as requested by the first-ever UN General Assembly Resolution on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems in 2023.

About the Event

This #TechDiplomacyTalk is part of the series of #TechDiplomacyTalks of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs aimed at increasing capacities and understanding on the implications of new and emerging technologies with a disruptive and transformative character for international law and international relations. These talks also seek to contribute to the BMEIA’s outreach to different communities involved with technology-related issues and allow for forging partnerships in areas that are of strategic importance to Austria’s foreign policy objectives. Austria’s #TechDiplomacy builds on Austria’s traditional foreign policy priorities of the primacy of international law, particularly international humanitarian and human rights law. At the interface of foreign policy, technology and innovation beyond the traditional approaches of foreign policy, Austria’s #TechDiplomacy aims to achieve added value on the one hand to enhance Austria’s profile as a trusted partner in multilateral global governance, and on the other side for Austrian business, research, technology and science communities.

The event will be in held in hybrid and in English language. The event will be recorded and put on the BMEIA YouTube channel.