State of The Nation

Summary: Trusting Robot Killers - Should We have Laws for LAWS. The essay explores the complex relationship between human soldiers and their robotic counterparts on the battlefield. It examines the range of emotional responses soldiers have had towards remote-controlled robots, from forming warm bonds to outright hostility when the machines malfunction. The essay discusses the Pentagon's strong push to integrate autonomous and semi-autonomous systems into military operations, with officials like former deputy defense secretary Robert O. Work advocating for "human-machine collaboration" to gain technological superiority. However, this vision faces a key obstacle - the lack of trust between humans and machines. The article delves into the psychological and social challenges of convincing soldiers to place their faith in autonomous systems, which can quickly evaporate in high-stakes combat situations. It cites examples of aviators' distrust of unmanned aerial vehicles ...

This photo illustration by Newsweek shows Alexander Kuranov (inset), who headed the Scientific Research Enterprise of Hypersonic Systems (NIPGS). He was arrested in 2021 and on April 18, 2024 got a seven-year jail sentence on... Newsweek/Getty Summary Below articles discuss the development of hypersonic technologies in Russia and the arrest of several scientists involved in this work on charges of treason. The question is "will this cripple the effort to develop new hypersonic platforms"   Key points: Alexander Kuranov, head of a hypersonic research institute in St. Petersburg, was recently sentenced to 7 years in prison for treason. Several other scientists have been arrested on similar charges in recent years. Russia has been developing hypersonic missiles and aircraft for decades, including the Ajax hypersonic multi-purpose aircraft concept proposed in the 1980s. This aimed to use aerodynamic heating to power onboard systems. - In 2004, Russia tested the X-90 Koal...