What do you think of smart weapons? An Italian opinion poll on AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to warfare represents one of the most controversial facets of the algorithmic revolution. The functional aspects of so-called autonomous weapons are examined, distinguishing between actual weapon systems capable of striking targets with increasing levels of autonomy, and decision-support systems that identify and submit targets to human operators. In both cases, the role of the machine is predominant and, beyond the anthropomorphic "robot" fantasies of fiction, it is expected to become exclusive in the future. In light of the crucial ethical, legal, and political implications, various social actors are involved, each characterized by a level of expertise that, paradoxically, is inversely related to their decision-making power: on the one hand, the "experts" such as scientists and military personnel; on the other, the "non-experts," namely citizens and politicians. To assess citizens' attitudes, a public opinion survey was conducted on a representative sample of the Italian population, balanced by gender, age, and educational level (ctrl). Reinforcing the findings of recent cross-national surveys, the results reveal a widespread aversion to the use of AI in weapon systems. Even aside from potential errors or malfunctions, the main concerns are ethical and legal in nature, particularly regarding responsibility for possible "actions" by autonomous weapons and the increased ease for governments to resort to force once the deterrent effect of human casualties is removed. In contrast with the current political climate, Italian public opinion strongly supports the regulation of the development and possible deployment of “intelligent” weapons through a multilateral approach, with the United Nations and the European Union playing leading roles and international negotiations serving as the key instrument.