The realities of autonomous weapons: Hedging a hybrid space of fact and fiction

“Autonomous Weapon Systems” (AWS) are a controversial technology, particularly regarding scenarios in which lethal actions no longer necessitate human involvement. The introduction to the volume shows that current debates on AWS mediate between fact and fiction and create a constant and complex dynamic between current developments and their potential futures. This chapter presents six reflections on the practices and discourses that transform AWS into technological, military and political realities.