What is autonomy in weapons systems?
Autonomy in weapons systems has existed, to a certain degree, for decades. However, with advances in artificial intelligence, specifically in the area of machine learning, there is a trend towards increasing autonomy in various functions of weapons systems, including in critical functions such as target selection and the application of force.
Systems that use machine analysis of information acquired from sensors to automatically select and engage targets, such that a human operator does not determine specifically where, when or against what force is applied, are of particular concern. In these systems, upon activation, there is a period of time where the weapons system can apply force to a target without additional human approval.
The specific object to be attacked, and the exact time and place of the attack, are determined by sensor processing, instead of an immediate human command.
Why is increasing autonomy in weapons systems something to be concerned about?
The automation of certain functions, including target selection and engaging of targets, are critical functions which should remain within meaningful human control.
Systems that function in this way present moral, ethical, humanitarian, operational and legal challenges, and threaten international peace, security and stability. Autonomy in weapons systems diminishes the control of the human operator and undermines accountability and responsibility in conflict.
They raise serious concerns over compliance with international human rights law and the international humanitarian law principles of distinction, proportionality, precaution and the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks, as documented by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
For examples of currently existing weapons systems of concern, see our weapons monitor resource. A selection of relevant reports is also available below – for more, see our resources library.
Relevant reports
‘Por una Prohibición de las Armas Autónomas: Argumentos para un Tratado Vinculante’ (2025)
| Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
| Cátedra Manuel Ballbe
| Centre Delas d’estudis per la Pau
This 2025 report presents updated arguments for a legally binding international treaty to prohibit autonomous weapons systems (LAWs). It examines how military AI technologies deepen global inequalities, erode human dignity, and undermine legal accountability by delegating life-and-death decisions to opaque [...]
‘A Hazard to Human Rights: Autonomous Weapons Systems and Digital Decision-Making’ (2025)
| Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC)
| Human Rights Watch
Autonomous weapons systems present numerous risks to humanity, most of which infringe on fundamental obligations and principles of international human rights law. Such systems select and engage targets based on sensor processing rather than human inputs. The threats they pose [...]
Autonomous weapons and the ‘lethal’ qualifier (2024)
| Automated Decision Research
This short briefing paper on the use of the 'lethal' qualifier in describing autonomous weapons explains why use of the word 'lethal' is superfluous, and hinders discussions on important aspects of IHL and human rights that should be taken into [...]
Overview of submissions to the UN Secretary-General’s report on autonomous weapons systems (2024)
| Automated Decision Research
This report contains short summaries of submissions to the United Nations Secretary-General's report on autonomous weapons systems, pursuant to UNGA Resolution 78/241. Please note that this is a reference document, and that these short submission summaries cannot and do not [...]
Advocating for A Legally Binding Instrument on Autonomous Weapons Systems: Which Way Ahead (2024)
| Automated Decision Research
In the e-journal Ethics and Armed Forces, Automated Decision Research manager Dr Catherine Connolly writes on the increasing global support in efforts to negotiate a new legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems. For the full issue of the journal, [...]
Targeting people and digital dehumanisation (2023)
| Automated Decision Research
This short briefing paper addresses the need for a prohibition on autonomous weapons systems designed or used to target humans, and the digital dehumanisation inherent in such systems.
Convergences in state positions on human control (2023)
| Automated Decision Research
This paper presents an examination of convergences in state positions on human control in the context of autonomy in weapons systems. Despite differences in phrasing when discussing the human element as it relates to autonomous weapons systems, there is much [...]
Autonomous weapons and digital dehumanisation (2022)
| Automated Decision Research
This short explainer paper discusses autonomous weapons in the context of digital dehumanisation.
Increasing complexity: Legal and moral implications of trends in autonomy in weapons systems (2023)
| PAX
This report looks at a number of trends related to autonomy in weapons systems (artificial intelligence, automatic target recognition and swarming) and the questions they raise about how meaningful human control can be retained. It gives an introduction into each [...]
Completely outside human control? (2023)
| Article 36
This discussion paper provides commentary on the proposed prohibition in the Working Paper submitted by Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden to the 2022 GGE on LAWS, July 2022. The paper notes that 'The notion of a [...]