Context
China's latest technological showcase during joint military drills with Cambodia has taken a futuristic, yet alarming turn with the debut of gun-toting robot dogs. These robots, which have rifles mounted on their backs, were prominently featured in the exercises, highlighting a new frontier in military automation.
Key Update
The Chinese military has introduced a robotic dog equipped with an automatic rifle during the Golden Dragon drills with Cambodia. Manufactured by Unitree Robotics, the Go2 robot dogs are consumer models adapted for military use. These robots, alongside similarly armed drones, were used to simulate urban combat scenarios. According to a soldier featured in the demonstration, these robot dogs can perform reconnaissance, identify enemies, and strike targets, potentially replacing human soldiers in dangerous situations. Despite their lethal capabilities, these robots are still controlled remotely by humans. However, there are concerns about future developments where artificial intelligence (AI) could enable autonomous decision-making in these machines.
