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Over 160 AI companies and organizations signed a pledge on July 17 in Stockholm, committing to avoid the development of Lethal Autonomous Systems. The pledge emphasizes that life-ending decisions should remain in human hands, as lethal autonomous weapons pose risks of violence and oppression, particularly when integrated with surveillance systems.

Signatories agree not to participate in or support the development, manufacture, trade, or use of such weapons. The definition of lethal autonomy remains ambiguous, with existing weapons already exhibiting varying degrees of autonomy.

The document aims to prevent an arms race in lethal robotics, contrasting it with other managed threats like nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. The absence of clarity regarding what constitutes lethal autonomy raises concerns about the effectiveness of the pledge in curbing future developments in autonomous weaponry.