Robot war dog prompts AI weaponisation fears

A robot dog armed with a sniper rifle capable of hitting targets from 3,940 feet away was criticised as 'terrifying', 'dystopian' and a 'nightmare'.

Manufactured by Ghost Robotics and arms manufacturer SWORD International and unveiled at a US Army trade show, the 'Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle' (SPUR) can be remotely instructed to load, unload and fire.

SPUR is 'the future of unmanned weapons system — and that future is now', according to SWORD International.

Critics have long voiced concerns over the weaponisation of robot quadrupeds.