Europe could spend up to £440m on killer robots

The European Union could spend up to £440 million ($590 million) on killer robots that wage warfare without the need for human assistance. Officially known as Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWs), the robots use artificial intelligence to target and kill enemies without human involvement. Brussels has decided to allow bankrolling of the controversial machines through the EU defence fund despite MEPs' attempts to bar LAWs from the kitty. The European Union could spend up to £440 million ($590 million) on killer robots that wage warfare without the need for human assistance. The parliament had wanted to block EU subsidies of the weapons but conceded in talks on Tuesday in order to strike a compromise, two sources who were in the room told the EUObserver.