Artificial intelligence and autonomous systems are poised to change the battlefield, and with it, soldiers themselves. Today, the human cost of war is high. Will that be true of tomorrow’s wars, or will humans be removed from the front lines, left to orchestrate surgical drone strikes and autonomous technology behind the scenes?

And what about the soldiers themselves? Today, pilots are operating drones from the other side of the world, but they’re still reporting high levels of trauma. Will reducing the humans involved in combat also reduce the humanity that should govern it? Can modern soldiers be both ethical and effective? And how will emerging technologies such as AI and robotics affect human soldiering?

This week, ‘What Happens Next?’ examines a new topic this week: the future of soldiering. Join Dr Susan Carland as she talks to veterans and experts in ethics; robotics, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence; resilience; and military conduct to discover what the future we face looks like if we fail to consider the moral and ethical quandaries presented by new technologies on the battlefield.

This week’s guests are philosophy professor Dr Rob Sparrow; alumnus and veteran Dr Josh Roose; Dr Kate Devitt, Chief Scientist of Trusted Autonomous Systems, CRC; former SAS Commanding Officer Ben Pronk DSC; and Paul Scharre, a former US Army Ranger and the author of ‘Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War’.

A full transcript of this episode is available on Monash Lens.

‘What Happens Next?’ will be back next week with part two of this series, “Will AI Change the Future of Soldiering?”. In the meantime, check out this short documentary on how robotics and AI are changing civilians’ lives, too.

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe and rate or review ‘What Happens Next?’ to help listeners like yourself discover it.

Artificial intelligence and autonomous systems are poised to change the battlefield, and with it, soldiers themselves. Today, the human cost of war is high. Will that be true of tomorrow&rsquo;s wars, or will humans be removed from the front lines, left to orchestrate surgical drone strikes and autonomous technology behind the scenes?
And what about the soldiers themselves? Today, pilots are operating drones from the other side of the world, but they&rsquo;re still reporting high levels of trauma. Will reducing the humans involved in combat also reduce the humanity that should govern it? Can modern soldiers be both ethical and effective? And how will emerging technologies such as AI and robotics affect human soldiering?
This week, &lsquo;What Happens Next?&rsquo; examines a new topic this week: the future of soldiering. Join Dr Susan Carland as she talks to veterans and experts in ethics; robotics, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence; resilience; and military conduct to discover what the future we face looks like if we fail to consider the moral and ethical quandaries presented by new technologies on the battlefield.
This week&rsquo;s guests are philosophy professor <a href="https://lens.monash.edu/@robert-sparrow?utm_campaign=MLENS_ART&amp;utm_source=omny_studio&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_content=sparrow_bio_may_australia">Dr Rob Sparrow</a>; alumnus and veteran <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/josh-roose-1166087/articles">Dr Josh Roose</a>; <a href="https://twitter.com/skdevitt">Dr Kate Devitt</a>, Chief Scientist of Trusted Autonomous Systems, CRC; former SAS Commanding Officer <a href="https://resilienceshield.com/about-us/">Ben Pronk DSC</a>; and <a href="https://www.paulscharre.com/">Paul Scharre</a>, a former US Army Ranger and the author of &lsquo;Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War&rsquo;.
A full transcript of this episode is available <a href="https://lens.monash.edu/@what-happens-next/2022/05/06/1384682/whnpodcast-soldiering-1?utm_campaign=WHNPD_BRA&amp;utm_source=omny_studio&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_content=s6e64_podcast_may_australia">on Monash Lens</a>.
&lsquo;What Happens Next?&rsquo; will be back next week with part two of this series, &ldquo;Will AI Change the Future of Soldiering?&rdquo;. In the meantime, check out <a href="https://lens.monash.edu/@robert-sparrow/2017/10/18/1244077/a-different-lens-episode-1-an-automated-world?utm_campaign=ADLEN_BRA&amp;utm_source=omny_studio&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_content=adlep1_video_may_australia">this short documentary on how robotics and AI are changing civilians&rsquo; lives, too</a>.
If you&rsquo;re enjoying the show, don&rsquo;t forget to subscribe and rate or review &lsquo;What Happens Next?&rsquo; to help listeners like yourself discover it.

The Handmaid’s Tale. Brave New World. Mad Max. Fictional dystopias have never seemed so close to becoming reality. Is it too late to change our course?

What Happens Next?, a podcast from Monash University, examines some of the biggest challenges facing our world and asks the experts, what will happen if we don't change? And what can we do to create a better future? Learn from leaders, listen to the people making a difference, and discover how you can help drive change.

The Handmaid&rsquo;s Tale. Brave New World. Mad Max. Fictional dystopias have never seemed so close to becoming reality. Is it too late to change our course?
What Happens Next?, a podcast from Monash University, examines some of the biggest challenges facing our world and asks the experts, what will happen if we don't change? And what can we do to create a better future? Learn from leaders, listen to the people making a difference, and discover how you can help drive change.

What Happens Next?, a podcast from Monash University, examines some of the biggest challenges facing our world and asks the experts, what will happen if we don't change? And what can we do to create a better future?

What Happens Next?

Fictional dystopias have never seemed so close to becoming reality. Is it too late to change our course? On Monash University's podcast, academic and commentator Dr Susan Carland steps through the sliding doors with global experts and thought leaders to find out what could happen if we don’t change – and what the world could look like if we do. To learn more, visit lens.monash.edu.

Fictional dystopias have never seemed so close to becoming reality. Is it too late to change our course? On Monash University's podcast, academic and commentator Dr Susan Carland steps through the sliding doors with global experts and thought leaders to find out what could happen if we don’t change – and what the world could look like if we do. To learn more, visit <a href="https://lens.monash.edu/@what-happens-next">lens.monash.edu.</a>

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