The rapid militarisation of AI has been a concrete policy concern, heightened by the emergence of autonomous weapon systems that increasingly feature in modern warfare. From drone swarms to AI-assisted targeting, the prospect that machines will come to make life and death decisions has alarmed scientists, ethicists and human rights groups worldwide. This growing detachment from violence has raised troubling questions of accountability, legality and moral responsibility in war.
Unknown: Killer Robots is a documentary that explores the development and deployment of such autonomous weapons through interviews with AI researchers, military experts, policymakers, and activists. It introduces Brandon Tseng, a former Navy SEAL turned defence technologist who argues that AI-driven systems not only reduce risk to soldiers’ lives but have become essential in an era of global competition as nations like China and Russia continue their own innovations. Set against this position is Emilia Javorsky of the Future of Life Institute, a think tank with scientists who are concerned with AI becoming an existential threat. The “dual-use” dilemma—the idea that the same technology can protect or destroy becomes all the more striking as the film showcases robot dogs, AI-powered aerial combat systems that outperform human pilots, weaponised drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as AI-automated target identification systems.
Released on Netflix as part of the Unknown documentary series, the film has gained wide attention for its timely subject and investigative approach. It stands as a stark reminder of what the future of conflict may look like, urging the audience to be prepared for the consequences of creating weapons that may one day operate beyond human control.