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WHAT AUTONOMOUS WEAPON SYSTEMS ARE UNDER DEVELOPMENT?

A number of countries are known to be developing autonomous weapon systems, which can select and eliminate targets without human help.

They include France, Israel, Russia, South Korea, the USA and UK.

Nations are racing to develop AI systems that can take control of unmanned military Reaper drones - UAVs that are currently piloted by humans from a ground control centre.

The high-altitude craft could soon pick out targets and hit them with air-to-ground missiles without any human oversight.

Rumours suggest military officials are also looking into the development of automated tanks.

AI-assisted weapons systems are already in use in some countries, including Israel, which recently deployed semi-autonomous drones to fire tear gas at protesters in Gaza.

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