Awards

• Winner of William E. Colby Award 2019

Overview

The era of autonomous weapons has arrived. Today around the globe, at least thirty nations have weapons that can search for and destroy enemy targets all on their own. Paul Scharre, a leading expert in next-generation warfare, describes these and other high tech weapons systems—from Israel’s Harpy drone to the American submarine-hunting robot ship Sea Hunter—and examines the legal and ethical issues surrounding their use. “A smart primer to what’s to come in warfare” (Bruce Schneier), Army of None engages military history, global policy, and cutting-edge science to explore the implications of giving weapons the freedom to make life and death decisions. A former soldier himself, Scharre argues that we must embrace technology where it can make war more precise and humane, but when the choice is life or death, there is no replacement for the human heart.

Full Product Details

9780393356588

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Reviews

Are we prepared for the most fundamental shift in warfare in history? This illuminating book will dominate the discussion. -- Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander at NATO A must-read for anyone interested in AI and the future of warfare. -- Task & Purpose One of the most interesting books on military affairs that I have read in some time. -- Thomas E. Ricks - New York Times Book Review

A clear, well-written, and richly documented discussion of an issue that deserves deep and careful study. -- Kirkus (starred) [D]etailed, nuanced, open-minded look at an incredibly complex and technical subject. ... Army of None will spark important discussions as it empowers reader with knowledge about a subject with enormous implications. -- Booklist Be very, very afraid. As this extraordinary book reveals, we are fast sailing into an era in which big life-and-death decisions in war will be made not by men and women, but by artificial intelligence. Are we prepared for the most fundamental shift in warfare in history? This illuminating book will dominate the discussion and analysis of this problem-and its execution in the field-for decades to come. -- Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and author of Sea Power: The History and Politics of the World's Oceans Technology democratizes. What was once the exclusive purview of nation-states quickly becomes accessible by everyone. Army of None serves as a smart primer to what's to come in warfare, but also what we're going to have to contend with in our daily lives soon after. -- Bruce Schneier, author of Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World The era of autonomous weapons is upon us. In Army of None, Scharre combines his experience as a warrior and his insight as a policy researcher to paint a comprehensive picture of exactly what such an era will look like. He masterfully weaves together threads tying future weapon systems, artificial intelligence, and policy imperatives to deliver a book that is simply a must-read for anyone interested in military technology and its broader implications. -- Amir Husain, founder and CEO of SparkCognition, and author of The Sentient Machine A tour de force of the future of war technology. A former U.S. Army Ranger turned defense analyst, Paul Scharre has been there and back. He skillfully uses that background to blend personal experience and thoughtful analysis into a highly readable journey through the world of robots on the battlefield and beyond. -- P.W. Singer, author of Wired for War and Ghost Fleet [E]ngagingly detailed...Scharre offers an authoritative and sobering perspective on the automated battlefields that will very soon come to characterize military conflict. -- Science

A sober, policy-focused primer on what is coming...written in an interesting and accessible manner. -- War on the Rocks A one-stop guide book to the debates, the challenges, and yes, the opportunities that can come from autonomous warfare. -- Techcrunch Army of None delivers what will likely be the most important general-audience book on this topic for at least the next decade. -- Lawfare In this comprehensive analysis, Scharre moves beyond the cliches of 'killer robots.' -- Lawrence D. Freeman - Foreign Affairs An authoritative and sobering perspective on the automated battlefields that will very soon come to characterize military conflict. -- Science A must-read for anyone interested in AI and the future of warfare. -- Task & Purpose One of the most interesting books on military affairs that I have read in some time. -- Thomas E. Ricks - New York Times Book Review A tour de force of the future of war technology...A highly readable journey through the world of robots on the battlefield and beyond. -- P.W. Singer, author of Wired for War and Ghost Fleet

Author Information

Paul Scharre is a former U.S. Army Ranger who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The author of the award-winning study of autonomous weapons Army of None he is currently executive vice president and director of studies at the Center for a New American Security. He lives in Virginia.

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