AI in War: Why Autonomous Weapons Aren't Banned—and Who Profits From Them

"AI decides who is considered a target and calculates how many civilian casualties are acceptable. Autonomous weapons systems are not science fiction. They are being used today—in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Ethiopia, and in Mali. While weapons such as lasers and landmines are banned, there are currently no UN regulations governing the use of so-called ‘AI weapons.’

Zimbabwean peace researcher Ishmael Bhila from the University of Paderborn has examined why the Global South is particularly affected by the use of these weapons; what attempts are being made to regulate them—and why they are failing.

Journalist Olivia Samnick and Bartholomäus Laffert from the Selbstlaut Kollektiv have been researching this topic for over half a year—for outlets including SWR, Deutschlandfunk, and brandeins—to explore how defense startups in Germany also hope to profit from the use of automated weapon systems and are further developing them, including with support from the federal government.

We will provide insights into our research and aim to spark a debate that may seem far away but is actually very close to home—a debate about what civil society in Germany can do to develop a position and influence decisions regarding the military technology being developed here.