Page 81 - The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Autonomous warfare, including the deployment of military robots and AI-

powered automated weaponry, creates the prospect of “robo-war”, which
will play a transformative role in future conflict.

The seabed and space are also likely to become increasingly militarized, as
more and more actors – state and commercial – gain the ability to send up
satellites and mobilize unmanned underwater vehicles capable of disrupting
fibre-optic cables and satellite traffic. Criminal gangs are already using off-

the-shelf quadrocopter drones to spy on and attack rivals. Autonomous
weapons, capable of identifying targets and deciding to open fire without
human intervention, will become increasingly feasible, challenging the laws

of war.

Box F: Emerging Technologies Transforming International

Security

Drones: They are essentially flying robots. The US currently leads but the
technology is spreading widely and becoming more affordable.

Autonomous weapons: Combining drone technology with artificial
intelligence, they have the potential to select and engage targets without
human intervention, according to pre-defined criteria.

Militarization of space: While more than half of all satellites are
commercial, these orbiting communications devices are increasingly

important for military purposes. A new generation of hypersonic “glide”
weapons are also poised to enter this domain, increasing the probability that
space will play a role in future conflicts and raising concern that current

mechanisms to regulate space activities are no longer sufficient.
Wearable devices: They can optimize health and performance under

conditions of extreme stress or produce exoskeletons that enhance soldiers’
performance, allowing a human to carry loads of around 90 kg without
difficulty.

Additive manufacturing: It will revolutionize supply chains by enabling
replacement parts to be manufactured in the field from digitally transmitted

designs and locally available materials. It could also enable the
development of new kinds of warheads, with greater control of particle size

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