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Comment by hyperdunc | Hacker News Reader

Whether military AI endsup being closer to a heart valve or a gas chamber, it's going to be built first by some nation.

But there is space for ethical contemplation during an arms race.

Absolutely. As consequentialist first move, let me suggest that a first order principle for the US military is "Sweat now or bleed later". Better to work your ass off to develop superior tactics, discipline, and technology now than die later.

No one hates war more than soldiers.

If soldiers hate war so much why do they join up?

The best way out of a terrible life for many poor people.

If you didn't do great in school and don't have rich parents to pay for college, the military in the US will look great with its education perks and chance to "see the world".

They believe in their country, what it represents, and are willing to sacrifice their life for it. In the US, it's the Constitution, to which they make an oath to upon joining.

Or they're broke, have their back against the wall, and can get good training and education through the military.

Possibly because the one thing worse than war is being invaded, history has shown that

Predatory sign-up practices in low-income neighbourhoods, and a systemic and relentless propaganda campaign starting in nursery school that instils jingoist rhetoric and military worship.

To play devil's advocate, we (USA) have a volunteer military. Even if you think it's a "poverty draft" driven by structural unemployment and dearth of opportunities in left behind cities and rural areas it's still not conscription.

How should the military fill its ranks? Would you rather have a lottery?

Same reason most people work on jobs they hate. Gotta work for money to live.

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