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:marseyrapscallion: Boston Dynamics pledges not to weaponize its robots :marppyenraged:

https://www.axios.com/2022/10/06/boston-dynamics-pledges-weaponize-robots

:marseysnoo:

https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/xx36ty/exclusive_boston_dynamics_pledges_not_to/?sort=controversial

https://old.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/xx4fsf/exclusive_boston_dynamics_pledges_not_to/?sort=controversial

https://old.reddit.com/r/nottheonion/comments/xx4mld/exclusive_boston_dynamics_pledges_not_to/?sort=controversial


Several robotics companies, including Boston Dynamics, are pledging not to support the weaponization of their products and are calling for others in the industry to do the same, according to a letter shared first with Axios.

Why it matters: Robots, like drones before them, have a wide range of peaceful and even life-saving uses, but can be turned into war-fighting machines, too.

Details: The open letter highlights the erosion of consumer trust in robots as among the reasons not to allow them to be used as weapons.

"We believe that adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated, widely available to the public, and capable of navigating to previously inaccessible locations where people live and work, raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues," the companies said in the letter.

The companies pledged not to add weapons technology themselves or to support others doing so. And "when possible" they said they will review customers' plans in hopes of avoiding those who would turn the robots into weapons, in addition to exploring technical features that could prevent such use.

In addition to Boston Dynamics, five other firms signed on to the commitment: Agility Robotics, ANYbotics, Clearpath Robotics, Open Robotics and Unitree Robotics.

What they're saying: Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter said, in an e-mailed statement: "We are concerned about recent increases in makeshift efforts by individuals attempting to weaponize commercially available robots... For this technology to be broadly accepted throughout society, the public needs to know they can trust it. And that means we need policy that prohibits bad actors from misusing it."

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![](https://media.giphy.com/media/6ra84Uso2hoir3YCgb/giphy.webp)

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Lmao

>we didn’t know that our customer was going to weaponize our products!

>why yes there 8 hardpoints on the chassis why do you ask

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Did anyone make sure their fingers aren't crossed

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They are lying. Why else would they bother saying this? No other reason possible.

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They're not lying they say the government can still make killbots but they will not support chuds duct taping handguns to bot chassis

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If they won't, I will.

![](/images/16650733995499258.webp)

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If it's not gonna pivot, whats the point of having it on top? Wouldn't underslung result in a much lower SoG and more stable firing platform?

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:marsey#airquotes:

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Didn’t the cops use one of the dogs with a bomb strapped to it to blow up some shooter in Texas a while ago?

May be misremembering.

It’s going to be hard to stop people turning them into weapons, especially when there’s a Chinese version of the robo dog bot now and they aren’t going to care if you strap a gun to it. Pretty sure there’s some videos on YT where one the dog bots has a remote controlled gun on its back already.

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Didn’t the cops use one of the dogs with a bomb strapped to it to blow up some shooter in Texas a while ago?

It was just the ordinary EOD bot. After that This American Life ran an incredibly cringy short story where the robot is feeling guilty because he's committing "police violence" against a black man. :marseylaugh:

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:#marseyxd:

it was a poor wittle sniper he dindu nuffin

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I don't know about guns on robot dogs, but the Chinx have used these to blare lockdown broadcasts.

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Nooooo this is so terrifying. Instead of a truck with loudspeakers it's a robot, so it's just like Terminator! :soycry:

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the Chinx have used these to blare lockdown broadcasts.

*China had a PR moment with one video about how advanced they are because one robot + megaphone and duct tape.

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What a load of crap. China is nothing but a backward country full of poor, uneducated people. They couldn't even build a decent robot if their lives depended on it!

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