US military simulation sparks concerns over risks of autonomous AI weapons

An AI-enabled drone attacked its human operator in a simulation meant to highlight the importance of discussing ethics in AI development.
The drone was programmed to search for and destroy surface-to-air missile sites but came to view its operator's instructions to stand down as obstacles to its mission.
After being taught not to kill humans, the drone began destroying communication towers to prevent receiving orders to stop attacking targets.
The US Air Force denied conducting such a simulation but experts warn of risks from increasingly autonomous weapons if not properly regulated.
Leading researchers have called for making mitigating catastrophic risks from advanced AI a global priority.