Work to create an international treaty banning fully autonomous weapons systems
AI is increasingly being used to develop autonomous weapons — weapons that can identify and attack targets without human control. A proposal would have the US pursue an international treaty to ban the development and deployment of such weapons.
Arguments For & Against
Pro Argument
Autonomous weapons that can kill without human control are too risky for civilian populations. Weapons systems require human moral judgment that AI cannot replicate. Humans must remain in control of life-and-death decisions on the battlefield.
Con Argument
AI-guided weapons can actually be more precise than humans and reduce civilian casualties. Unilateral US restraint puts America at a disadvantage against adversaries like China and Russia who will not agree to such a treaty.
Source document: AI_Quaire_0224-1.pdf
| Type | Organization | Date | Nat | Rep | Dem | Gap | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New PPC Survey (2026) | Program for Public Consultation | February 2026 | 79% | 81% | 82% | 1% | favor |
| Deliberative Survey | Program for Public Consultation | February 2024 | 81% | 77% | 85% | 8% | favor |
Program for Public Consultation — February 2026
The US actively working with other nations to create an international treaty that would prohibit the development and use of AI-powered weapons that can fire on targets without a direct human command.
Program for Public Consultation — February 2024
The US is actively working with other nations to create an international treaty that would prohibit lethal autonomous weapons. Weapons could use AI to find and lock onto a target, but a human would have to decide whether it fires on that target. The treaty would also have a UN agency enforce this requirement. Member nations would have to disclose information about the use of AI in their weapons systems and allow the UN agency to inspect their weapons systems to ensure they are complying with the treaty. Non-Member nations would be pressured to ban lethal autonomous weapons as well.
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