With the advances in artificial intelligence that have boomed in recent years, people from all walks of life wonder if machines will soon be coming for us. Whether it’s taking our jobs, dictating our policies, or engaging in the unimaginable–warfare, some believe AI poses a threat to the future of mankind. But is AI really an issue? Well, there are absolutely some initiatives out there that make us wonder. One of those is the DARPA SyNAPSE program.

DARPA stands for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and its SyNAPSE program is a groundbreaking effort to develop brain-inspired computers. Modeled after a human brain with its potential for rapid learning and complex decision-making, the SyNAPSE program, if achieved, could revolutionize . . . you guessed it . . . warfare. So, we’re not talking about painting imitation Picassos or serving us beverages while we watch our favorite show on the couch. Nope, this is all about autonomous weapons systems at war. Powered by such technology, these machines could make life-or-death decisions without human intervention. Could that lead to catastrophic consequences? Our gut feelings are probably right about this one.   

These AI beings could also be used for surveillance and intelligence gathering. That sounds quite alarming to many, too. SyNAPSE-powered AI could analyze vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and predicting behaviors with unequaled accuracy. Could erode privacy rights and empower authoritarian regimes. Possibly.

While the scientific advancements of SyNAPSE are undeniable, are these efforts ethical? That’s a question that one day regulation bodies will decide. But which way will they favor? Will they overlook the ethical implications and potential threat to humans and greenlight the use of SyNAPSE in the real world? Or will they deem it too great a menace? I think we all know what the verdict will be. But we still have to hope that Terminator will always be a fictional story and not a real-world consequence of DARPA overreaching its bounds.