Add BookmarkWired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century
A military expert reveals how science fiction is fast becoming reality on the battlefield, changing not just how wars are fought, but also the politics, economics, laws, and ethics that surround war itself
P. W. Singer’s previous two books foretold the rise of private military contractors and the advent of child soldiers— predictions that proved all too accurate. Now, he explores the greatest revolution in military affairs since the atom bomb—the advent of robotic warfare.
We are just... (show more)
A military expert reveals how science fiction is fast becoming reality on the battlefield, changing not just how wars are fought, but also the politics, economics, laws, and ethics that surround war itself
P. W. Singer’s previous two books foretold the rise of private military contractors and the advent of child soldiers— predictions that proved all too accurate. Now, he explores the greatest revolution in military affairs since the atom bomb—the advent of robotic warfare.
We are just beginning to see a massive shift in military technology that threatens to make the stuff of I,Robot and the Terminator all too real. More than seven- thousand robotic systems are now in Iraq. Pilots in Nevada are remotely killing terrorists in Afghanistan. Scientists are debating just how smart—and how lethal—to make their current robotic prototypes. And many of the most renowned science fiction authors are secretly consulting for the Pentagon on the next generation.
Blending historic evidence with interviews from the field, Singer vividly shows that as these technologies multiply, they will have profound effects on the front lines as well as on the politics back home. Moving humans off the battlefield makes wars easier to start, but more complex to fight. Replacing men with machines may save some lives, but will lower the morale and psychological barriers to killing. The “warrior ethos,” which has long defined soldiers’ identity, will erode, as will the laws of war that have governed military conflict for generations.
Paradoxically, these new technologies will also bring war to our doorstep. As other nations and even terrorist organizations start to build or buy their own robotic weapons, the robot revolution could undermine America’s military preeminence. While his analysis is unnerving, there’s an irresistible gee-whiz quality to the innovations Singer uncovers. Wired for War travels from Iraq to see these robots in combat to the latter-day “skunk works” in America’s suburbia, where tomorrow’s technologies of war are quietly being designed. In Singer’s hands, the future of war is as fascinating as it is frightening. (show less)
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The first book I've seen devoted to the issue of military robotics and automated military weaponry. This was a book that needed to be written, so I'm glad Singer did it. That said, it could have used a bit more editing, I think. At times Singer's technology trivia (particularly in the early chapters) gets overwhelming. On the other hand, the lack of editing makes it the book that much more comprehensive. And Singer does look at the issue from quite a few different perspectives (morality, econ... (show more)
The first book I've seen devoted to the issue of military robotics and automated military weaponry. This was a book that needed to be written, so I'm glad Singer did it. That said, it could have used a bit more editing, I think. At times Singer's technology trivia (particularly in the early chapters) gets overwhelming. On the other hand, the lack of editing makes it the book that much more comprehensive. And Singer does look at the issue from quite a few different perspectives (morality, economics, military strategy, geopolitics and society -- and especially the Army officers who deal with the technology day-to-day). Singer touches on the invasion of Iraq briefly, and a few of his comments were a bit too uncritical of the decisions of 2002/2003 for my taste, with a tone that sounded more geared toward a military audience. But overall, Singer's book is quite objective, I think. Glad I read it. (show less)
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I found that this book was a nice general overview of robotics beside being a book about nascent military technology.
I've read many of the books Singer references and I really liked that he included so many pop and SF sources and his research is very good. Overall, P.W. Singer's book is written with infectious enthusiasm.
That being said, I can't muster the same childish glee I had for this types of machines as I would when I was very young. So the discussions of many of these machines- ... (show more)
I found that this book was a nice general overview of robotics beside being a book about nascent military technology.
I've read many of the books Singer references and I really liked that he included so many pop and SF sources and his research is very good. Overall, P.W. Singer's book is written with infectious enthusiasm.
That being said, I can't muster the same childish glee I had for this types of machines as I would when I was very young. So the discussions of many of these machines- like Scooby, the first machine to "die" in combat are met with both fascination and fear. I am glad that someone did not get a call that their son or daughter died but I worry about these technologies getting into the wrong hands. I'm not worried about AI becoming sentient as much as the power of individuals to destroy wide swaths of the world in spectacular ways.
Bill Joy's article "The Future Doesn't Need Us" is mentioned, as it should but I think that fear dampens my enthusiasm. My optimistic side hopes that Ray Kurzweil is right, and accelerated technological growth will lead to increased health, longer life, the end of scarcity,and a better standard of living. But the realist in me sees these types of technologies as tools that I would not want to see fall into the wrong hands. When I think what was done with a razor blade and a plan on 9-11, I despair when thinking of what type of catastrophe could be implemented with more sophisticated tools.
Bill Joy's article
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy.html (show less)Already read
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