Coalition takes stand against weaponized robots

Organization Name: Coalition Against Weaponization of General Purpose Robots

Country: USA

Website: N/A

Year Founded: 2022

Number of Employees: N/A

Innovation Class: Business & Management

Innovation Subclass: Social Good

Description:

In October 2022, six leading companies formed the Coalition Against the Weaponization of General Purpose Robots. Agility Robotics, ANYbotics, Boston Dynamics, Clearpath Robotics, Open Robotics and Unitree wrote an open letter pledging not to support the weaponization of their robots or software. Understanding their commitment alone is not enough to fully address the risk of weaponized robots, the coalition called on others in the industry and policymakers to also promote the safe use of these robots and to prohibit their misuse.

Analysis:

Robots are incredible tools that can keep people safe, enrich lives and help companies overcome operational challenges. Unfortunately, there recently has been a number of viral videos showing individuals weaponizing commercial robots. New generations of robots, especially those from the aforementioned companies, are more accessible, easier to operate, more autonomous and capable of navigating into locations previously inaccessible to automated or remotely-controlled technologies.

Weaponizing commercial robots will harm public trust in the technologies, which offer tremendous benefits to both businesses and society. While certainly not a panacea for potential all misuse, the Coalition Against the Weaponization of General Purpose Robots should be praised for taking a stand and encouraging all stakeholders to work together to ensure the safe and proper use of generalpurpose robots. RR – Steve Crowe