On the outskirts of Kyiv, the founders of Vyriy, a Ukrainian drone company, were recently at work on a weapon of the future. Oleksii Babenko, Vyriy’s chief executive, demonstrated the technology by riding a motorcycle down a dirt path, followed by a drone that autonomously tracked him using software.
Until recently, a human would have piloted the quadcopter. Now, after locking onto its target—Mr. Babenko—the drone flew itself, guided by software that used the machine’s camera to track him. This autonomous tracking technology represents a significant leap in the weaponization of consumer technology.
Vyriy is among many Ukrainian companies driving this technological advancement, fueled by the war with Russia. The urgency to outthink the enemy, coupled with large flows of investment and government contracts, has turned Ukraine into a Silicon Valley for autonomous drones and other weaponry. These technologies diminish the need for human judgment in targeting and firing, marking a step towards an era of killer robots.
The most advanced versions of these autonomous systems leverage deep learning, a form of A.I. that uses vast amounts of data to identify patterns and make decisions. While these technologies are not yet as advanced as military-grade systems from the United States, China, or Russia, their low cost and accessibility make them significant. Built with off-the-shelf components like Raspberry Pi and online code, these weapons can be produced for thousands of dollars or less.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation, emphasized the importance of these technologies for Ukraine’s defense. “We need maximum automation,” he said. Autonomous drones have already been used in combat against Russian targets, showcasing their effectiveness on the battlefield.
However, the rise of these autonomous weapons raises significant ethical and legal questions. Human rights groups and United Nations officials advocate for limiting their use, fearing a new global arms race. Despite these concerns, Ukraine’s focus remains on leveraging technology to fend off the Russian invasion.
Stuart Russell, an A.I. scientist from the University of California, Berkeley, warned about the potential dangers of weaponized A.I. “There will be weapons of mass destruction that are cheap, scalable, and easily available in arms markets all over the world,” he said.
Ukraine’s innovations have garnered international attention and investment, with companies like Vyriy pushing the boundaries of what is possible. The technology has led to the development of systems like Saker, which produces single-circuit-board computers that can be attached to drones, enabling them to auto-lock onto targets and carry out attacks autonomously.
As these technologies continue to evolve, they promise to change the landscape of modern warfare, raising crucial questions about the future of autonomous weapons and their regulation on the global stage.
