Issues: Emerging technologies

Emerging technologies

SGR produces a range of resources on the issue of 'Emerging technologies'. This covers a wide range of new and controversial technologies such as hydraulic fracturing (fracking), artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, climate/ geo-engineering, genetically-modified organisms and synthetic biology, and nanotechnologies. An explicit concern is the adequate application of the precautionary principle, and the possible alternatives to emerging technologies, including 'appropriate' technology and non-technological solutions such economic, political or social change.

drone (iStockphoto)

Is the University of Edinburgh involved in research for autonomous weapons?

Partnerships between the military and UK academia are being rapidly expanded. Alba Andrés Sánchez examines whether some of them might be used to help develop lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS).

15 September 2022

UK military aerial drone

Militarising research: The dark side of Global Britain’s science agenda

The British government wants the nation to be a 'science superpower' – but, asks Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, is this just a smokescreen to hide the expansion of military and economic priorities within the science and technology sectors?

5 April 2022

Armed drones

Are UK universities being drawn into developing autonomous weapons?

The UK government refuses to support a treaty to regulate lethal autonomous weapons systems, preferring instead to expand military R&D, including at universities. But, argues Leyla Manthorpe Rizatepe, these same universities could become a further focus of protest.

26 October 2021

Matrix

Threats from emerging weapons technologies

As NATO marks its 70th anniversary, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, highlights the serious risks from the race for new weapons technologies.

3 December 2019

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Lethal and autonomous: coming soon to a sky near you

Dr Peter Burt of Drone Wars UK says that, in spite of contrary assurances, the UK is developing the components of autonomous weaponry.

12 June 2019

Prospects of robotic warfare are chilling but recognised

Prof John Finney argues that we must act to prevent the ‘morally repugnant’ prospect of machines with the power and discretion to take human life.

11 June 2019

An AI apocalypse isn’t the problem – technology-driven inequality is

Fears of an artificial intelligence apocalypse make the news, but it's AI-fuelled inequality we should worry about, says Andrew Simms, SGR.

Article from New Scientist, 14 November 2018

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Scientists' AI poll points to dystopian future, less control & a high chance of mistakes

Over 80 percent believe there's a medium to high chance of things going badly wrong with Artificial Intelligence (AI) according to a poll of concerned scientists conducted by Scientists for Global Responsibility.

3 November 2018

Marcellus Shale Gas Pipelines

Fracking and public health: research update

Prof Andrew Watterson, University of Stirling, assesses key academic research published in 2016 on the risks of fracking to public health.

22 November 2016

Active brain

The quest for ‘brain-like machines’

Are computers a biotechnology? One place from which the future of computing and robotics technologies is being thought about is a bit unexpected – the neuroscience lab. Over the past three years, a number of large research initiatives have been announced.

1 September 2016