Taylor & Francis Online | John Williams
The pervasive debate surrounding Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and the 'responsibility/accountability gap' overlooks critical political and economic forces that compel their development and deployment. These dynamics include the security dilemma, the perceived inevitability of AI integration into military systems, and capitalist profit maximization, which collectively create an environment where states feel they have "no choice" but to pursue LAWS. This perceived lack of choice significantly curtails political responsibility for LAWS development, narrowing the ethical discourse to technical and procedural aspects of their *use*, such as target identification, selection, and engagement. The article highlights how this mirrors the utilitarian and procedural accountability practices established for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), prioritizing compliance with rules of engagement and mission success over broader moral considerations. Consequently, the analysis advocates for a broadened perspective to fully acknowledge the extensive ethical issues presented by military AI and LAWS, moving beyond a narrow technical focus.
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