Battle without soldiers

From agriculture to firefighting, drones have become an integral part of our daily lives. But their role does not end there. What began as a flying assistant has evolved into a new fighter on the front lines, often with no human involved at all.

In modern conflicts, it is no longer the soldier but the drone that defines the battlefield. They scout, track and attack, controlled remotely by humans. The latest development goes even further: autonomous drones that, thanks to artificial intelligence, can independently select targets and carry out attacks, as discussed in The Guardian. No pilot at the controls, but an algorithm shaping the battlefield.

Who gives the order?
But what happens if a drone makes the wrong decision? Who is responsible? Do we really want machines to make these kinds of choices?

At the same time, the playing field is changing. No longer a human-against-human situation, but systems battling other systems: drones against radars, algorithms against algorithms. This may reduce direct human suffering, but also means less human oversight and a shift in moral considerations.

The conflict becomes quieter, but no less profound
Autonomous systems are often seen as a way to remove people from dangerous situations. Yet humans are always present, as targets, as programmers, as silent witnesses. Technology seems to take control, but behind every drone there is still a human choice, to refrain from intervening and let the technology proceed.

Steering autonomy
The boundaries between software, hardware and the armed forces are blurring. Technology appears autonomous, but the values we program into it remain human. The question is therefore not just whether we deploy these systems, but especially how we shape them. Which choices do we embed in code, and which freedoms do we allow?

It makes sense to invest in defense and the protection of what we have. But it is at least as important to invest in imagination, the ability to envision the role technology should play in the future. In this way, we can actively steer how society and technology develop.

No autonomy without responsibility. No battle without debate.