The actual headline of the news story reads “Automated Killer Robots Are a Threat to Humanity.”  I know, another gem from the “Well, Duh! Center for Research & Obvious Findings.”

Hmmm.  They even interviewed “experts” for this story. 

How many experts does it take to tell us what we already know?  In fact, can you think of one person in your circle of friends who wasn’t already sort of leaning towards thinking that automated killer robots might be dangerous?  Maybe my four-year-old nephew.  He would actually be in favor of killer robots, I’m guessing. 

Everyone else?  Yeah, we already drew this conclusion ages ago, after watching any one of a number of good sci-fi movies.  Neo, Sarah Conner, & Optimus Prime have been telling us for years that automated killer robots might be dangerous.  There are, of course, countless other movies where similar themes are explored.  But the bottom line is this:  there is definitely such a thing as giving a robot too much AI. 

Maybe it depends on the kind of job we’re asking that intelligent robot to perform.  I guess I’m fine with giving a bunch of artificial intelligence to a robot on an automobile assembly line.  Give that guy the authority to make decisions.  That’s okay.

But the robot tooling around the Iraqi desert… the one that has an automatic weapon with him?  Yeah, not so much.  I don’t even trust most human beings with an automatic weapon; I’m certainly not going to breathe easy with machines running around with AK-47’s.  Guns don’t kill people… automated killer robots do.  Watch Terminator 2 if you don’t believe me. 

Here’s a quote from the “expert” that pretty much agrees with everything I’m saying:

“I have worked in artificial intelligence for decades, and the idea of a robot making decisions about human termination terrifies me,” Sharkey said.

Consider me terrified as well.  Also, consider me completely underwhelmed by this unnecessary and redundant news article.  Automated killer robots are dangerous?  Okay.  I think I knew that already.  Next you’re going to tell me that kids shouldn’t do drugs, that gas is expensive, and that tornadoes can be scary.  Well, I guess it’s comforting to have the “experts” backing up our fears at least.