‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

Pentagon says overreliance on AI contributed to missile strike on Iran school

974 points · 553 comments · devonnull

  1. vfclists · · focus · HN ↗
    The one that pulls the trigger bears the responsibility.
    1. verdverm · · focus · HN ↗
      I would argue `s/pulls the trigger/gives the go ahead/` is intuitively more appropriate. The sailor on the boat that fired off the tomahawk (iirc) was likely not in a position to make an in-the-moment determination
    2. esseph · · focus · HN ↗
      The one that pulls the trigger is often not the one doing any targeting, especially on a strategic strike weapon like a tomahawk. They are receiving a target data package with preprogrammed instructions. Their role is far more... mechanical. They're not seeing the targets at all.
      1. DoctorOetker · · focus · HN ↗
        one could say these people aren't pulling the trigger, they are part of the trigger, pulled by higher-ups
    3. derektank · · focus · HN ↗
      Completely disagree. When we’re talking about something like air, missile, or artillery strikes, the operator of the weapon system may literally never even see the target, on a screen or otherwise. They may simply be entering targeting information provided to them by an operations center. These decisions are social and group decisions, with distributed responsibility, which is why it’s so important to have institutions like the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence which historically has identified and helped implement the policies which prevent these kinds of disasters, but which unfortunately the current administration decided to shut down without a replacement.

      Sometimes, the difference between a successful strike on a lawful combatant and disaster is one analyst pointing out that the building the enemy is hiding in is next to a square that’s used for a market on Tuesdays and wouldn’t you know it, it’s Tuesday. That’s not something the person “pulling the trigger,” can always be expected to know, which is why every ops center needs to be designed to elevate those voices, when the time comes

      1. mito88 · · focus · HN ↗
        the operator was following orders...
    4. jacquesm · · focus · HN ↗
      No. That's too easy on the higher ups, they never pull triggers.
Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.