Ukraine drone chief targeted by $20 million Russian bounty warns 'humanity is losing control' as AI becomes a 'digital panopticon'

Ukraine's drone commander, Robert Madyar Brovdi, has warned that humanity is losing control over AI-enabled weapons, warning that the future may see us losing grip on artificial intelligence in warfare. Brovdi, the head of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, has received a life sentence in absentia from Russian courts and a $20 million bounty on his head. These threats surfaced after Russia allegedly killed civilians with an autonomous drone, and just before a UN decision on regulating such weapons.

Brovdi, a former grain trader, argued that combining AI with unmanned and robotic systems brings dangers beyond the battlefield, affecting civilization as a whole. He expressed concern about the current phase of AI development, and while he didn't intend to alarm his audience, he acknowledged that his warnings could be perceived as such.

The warning comes amidst growing concern over the use of autonomous drones in warfare, with Russia reportedly using a fully autonomous drone to kill civilians. This incident occurred weeks before a UN decision on limiting lethal autonomous weapons. The UN talks on lethal autonomous weapons under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons are ongoing, and the review conference scheduled for November 16-20 will decide on the future of the negotiations.

Brovdi has been advocating for faster development of drone forces, urging NATO members to create their own unmanned branches. His warning, coming from a commander at the heart of a five-year conflict, highlights the complexities and uncertainties surrounding AI in warfare.