Can Battle-Bots liberate humanity from the tyranny of its own nature or simply inherit the sins of their architects—asks Mujeeb Jaihoon.
Algorithmic Apostles
In a world shaped by data-driven dreams, humanity stands at a crossroads. The emergence of a new breed of warriors—battle-bots designed to kill with precision—forces us to ask not just how we wage war, but why we created these machines in our own image, devoid of any empathy and morality.
The temptation to entrust them with our most devastating weapons, including nuclear arsenals, grows stronger by the day. Technocrats argue that machines are immune to emotion, and therefore immune to error. But history is littered with miscalculations made not by emotion, but by arrogance. We must ask: Can AI grasp the human horror of Hiroshima, or is that knowledge lost in translation when morality is turned into ruthless math?
As decision-making is handed over to cold algorithms, calculation replaces compassion. The rise of autonomous weapons systems—selecting and engaging targets without human intervention—has sparked global outrage. Yet the arms race continues, fueled by the same greed and lust for power that has plagued mankind since Cain raised his hand against Abel. These machines do not discriminate or hesitate. “War will remain something that is done by, and to, humans.” But what happens when the murders are outsourced to soulless code?
The False Promise
Meanwhile, for decades, the prophets of progress have preached that technology will “make the world a better place.” Yet in practice, we’ve watched how algorithmic bias takes root instigating new forms of injustice. The promise of liberation has been replaced by the reality of manipulation. The very institutions that deploy drones also deploy censorship algorithms. AI, in its current form, is not solving humanity’s moral crisis—it is amplifying it.
Can AI Dethrone the Empire of Lust
Man’s lust and greed for money, power, and influence have shaped centuries of conquests. The question now is whether AI—a product of that same ambition—can be steered toward a different direction. Can it be programmed to protect rather than eliminate and control?
The answer doesn’t lie in the algorithms alone—it lies in the values we embed within them. If AI continues to reflect the psyche of its creators, it will only deepen inequality and conflict. But if we dare to redefine it—not as a weapon, but as a shield of peace—then this technology might yet become our most powerful ally.
(Mujeeb Jaihoon is an author and social critic whose work explores the spiritual undercurrents of contemporary life.)
Thanks Syam
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