Moral responsibility in the age of machine warfare

Moral responsibility in the age of machine warfare

Moral responsibility in the age of machine warfare
Every drone strike and every algorithmic decision carry the weight of moral responsibility. (AFP photo)
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In the artificial glow of Techville’s neon lights, the city gleams like a polished machine — a utopia of innovation, efficiency and wealth. Yet beneath its metallic sheen, the cracks of its ideals grow wider, exposing the fragile, chaotic reality of ethics in modern warfare.

Techville, a self-proclaimed beacon of progress, finds itself grappling with questions it can no longer ignore: What happens when the tools of tomorrow clash with the morality of humanity? How does one create coexistence in a world teetering on the brink of its own destruction?

The irony is inescapable. A city built on the promise of a brighter future now finds itself manufacturing instruments of destruction.

Samir’s story, though fictional, echoes across the globe — a child in the crosshairs of conflict, caught between the ambition of advanced weaponry and the simplicity of a wooden toy carved by his father. His life is a stark reminder that the cost of progress is often paid in innocence.

Techville’s most celebrated industry is its defense technology sector, a juggernaut of artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing. “Efficiency for security” is its motto, yet the definition of security remains as elusive as ever.

For Samir, security is the absence of roaring planes and trembling walls. For the architects of war in Techville, it is the cold, calculated numbers on a risk analysis report.

Here lies the crux of the problem: The unpredictability of ethical content in war. Every drone strike and every algorithmic decision carry the weight of moral responsibility.

But who bears this burden? The programmers in their glass towers, insulated from the consequences of their code? The policymakers who sign off on missions with sanitized terms like neutralization or collateral damage? Or the society that cheers for the illusion of safety while its humanity erodes?

It is not just a question for Techville; it is a question for all of us, as we hurtle into an era where machines can kill, decisions are made at the speed of light, and the consequences of those decisions linger for generations.

For Samir, the sky — a symbol of boundless dreams and infinite potential — has become a source of terror. His story is the antithesis of Techville’s vision. While Techville looks upward to the stars with ambition, Samir looks up in fear. His wooden toy, carved with love, stands in quiet defiance against the cold, impersonal machinery that defines his nights.

Yet Samir dreams. He dreams of a sky without drones, of walls that do not tremble, of a place where children can sleep without wondering if tomorrow will come. His dreams, fragile yet persistent, hold a lesson for Techville and for the world: Progress without humanity is a hollow victory.

Techville prides itself on control — over technology, markets, narratives. But control in warfare is a mirage. The algorithms that power Techville’s defense systems are not immune to bias, nor are they capable of understanding the nuanced moral dilemmas of human conflict.

A drone can distinguish between a weapon and a toy, but it cannot comprehend the weight of a child’s fear or the grief of a parent.

Rafael Hernandez de Santiago

A drone can distinguish between a weapon and a toy, but it cannot comprehend the weight of a child’s fear or the grief of a parent.

Moreover, as Techville’s systems grow more sophisticated, they become more opaque. The city’s brightest minds cannot fully explain how their creations make decisions. This unpredictability is not just a flaw; it is also a threat. It is the kind of threat that turns the dream of a safer world into a dystopian nightmare.

The story of Techville and Samir calls for a radical rethinking of coexistence. If progress is to mean anything, it must begin with empathy, with the recognition that our lives are interconnected in ways that transcend borders, technologies and ideologies.

Techville’s leaders must take a page from the past — a past where respect and understanding were not seen as weaknesses but as strengths. The image of a classroom with a cross and the word “Allah” hanging side by side is not just a relic of simpler times; it is also a blueprint for a future where differences are celebrated, not exploited.

This is not a call to abandon technology but to humanize it: To create systems that prioritize life over efficiency, that consider the long-term consequences of actions, that aim not just to win wars, but also to prevent them.

In its quest to build the future, Techville has become a symbol of humanity’s oldest flaw: The belief that power can exist without responsibility. Its neon lights shine bright, but their glare obscures the shadows of the sky — the children like Samir, the families torn apart, the humanity lost in the pursuit of control.

The irony is that the solutions Techville seeks are not found in its labs or algorithms but in the simple, enduring values of compassion, respect and humility — in the soft hum of a mother’s lullaby, in the quiet strength of a father standing guard, in the dreams of a child tracing the grooves of a wooden toy.

As Techville debates its future, the world must listen to the cry for peace that echoes in Samir’s story. It is a cry that transcends borders, languages and technologies. It is a cry that demands we look beyond the immediacy of our ambitions and consider the legacy we leave behind.

The choice is ours: To continue on a path of unpredictability and destruction or to chart a new course — one where coexistence is not just a dream but also a reality, where the sky is a source of wonder, not fear, and where progress is measured not in profits but in the lives we touch and the peace we create.

Rafael Hernandez de Santiago, viscount of Espes, is a Spanish national residing in Saudi Arabia and working at the Gulf Research Center.

 

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Eco-friendly and safer walkways expanded to 33 percent in Makkah Hajj sites 

Eco-friendly and safer walkways expanded to 33 percent in Makkah Hajj sites 
Updated 5 min 11 sec ago
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Eco-friendly and safer walkways expanded to 33 percent in Makkah Hajj sites 

Eco-friendly and safer walkways expanded to 33 percent in Makkah Hajj sites 
  • Roads made of flexible rubber asphalt expanded to 33 percent this year
  • Walking on regular roads linked to 38 percent of foot and ankle injuries during Hajj

Eco-friendly and safer walkways expanded to 33 percent in Makkah Hajj sites 

Arab News

Roads made of flexible rubber asphalt expanded to 33 percent this year

Walking on regular roads linked to 38 percent of foot and ankle injuries during Hajj

MAKKAH: Muslims performing Hajj this year will be seeing better quality and safer walkways in Makkah, thanks to the increased use of a new road construction solution.

Saudi authorities have announced the expansion of roads made of flexible rubber asphalt by 33 percent this year, with work on the road extending from Namirah Mosque to Al-Mashaer train station in Arafat, raising the total area to 16,000 square meters.

"Instead of accumulating used tires, which are a major source of air pollution when burned, this technology recycles them and transforms them into a flexible asphalt layer that absorbs impact and provides comfortable walking paths," the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The report quoted the Kingdom's Roads General Authority (RGA) as saying tests conducted on asphalt surfaces and regular sidewalks "cause strong reactions on pilgrims’ ankles and feet, especially the elderly, who constitute 53% of pilgrims."

About 38 percent of foot and ankle injuries that are dealt with by healthcare facilities during Hajj have been attributed to walking on regular walkways.

As explained, smart surfaces that come with the use of flexible rubber asphalt help absorb shock and relieve pressure on the human body’s joints, especially the ankles and feet.  

The RGA experiment is in line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030’s commitment to sustainable development, smart cities, and enhancing the safety and comfort of all residents and visitors.

Saudi officials expect the number of pilgrims in this year's Hajj to surpass last year's figure, which the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) counted at 1.83 million. Of that number, 1.61 million arrived from outside the Kingdom through various entry points, while 221,854 were internal pilgrims, including citizens and expatriates.

Hajj 2025 is expected to start on June 4, subject to confirmation by Saudi Arabia’s official moon-sighting authorities.

As of May 21, 2025, a total of 755,344 pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom from abroad through all air, land, and sea entry points, according to the General Directorate of Passports, also known as the Jawazath.

Indonesian pilgrims are anticipated to lead the biggest delegation again for Hajj 2025. Last year, a total of 221,000 Indonesian pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom for Hajj, followed by Pakistan with 180,000. India came third at 175,025, Bangladesh was fourth at 127,198, and Nigeria completed the top 5 with 95,000 pilgrims.


Champions to be crowned as Lahore, Quetta face off in PSL final today

Champions to be crowned as Lahore, Quetta face off in PSL final today
Updated 53 min 58 sec ago
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Champions to be crowned as Lahore, Quetta face off in PSL final today

Champions to be crowned as Lahore, Quetta face off in PSL final today
  • The showdown begins this evening at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium with major prize money on the line
  • Shaheen Afridi-led Lahore Qalandars aim for a third PSL title and a historic win on home ground

KARACHI: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars will face 2019 winners Quetta Gladiators in the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) today, Sunday, with both sides aiming to make history in the tenth edition of the country’s premier T20 tournament.

The final will be played under lights at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium, with the match set to begin at 7:30 p.m. local time. A reserve day has been scheduled for Monday in case of rain.

The winner will walk away with $500,000 in prize money, while the runners-up will receive $200,000.

Either the Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Qalandars will become only the second team in PSL history to win three titles, or the Saud Shakeel-led Gladiators will lift their second trophy after a six-year gap.

Qalandars fought their way into the final through the playoffs, knocking out Karachi Kings and Islamabad United, while Quetta topped the points table and beat Islamabad in the qualifier to book their spot.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be leading Quetta Gladiators to an HBL PSL final and we will do our best to lift the trophy,” Shakeel said. “Qaddafi Stadium really has been a lucky venue for us where we have won five out of our six games and will look to continue the winning momentum.”

Afridi said Lahore were aiming for a title hat trick on home turf.

“We are buzzing to feature in our third HBL PSL final in the last four editions and our aim is to complete the treble at our home ground,” he said.

Lahore, who finished fourth in the group stage, will take confidence from their previous outing against Quetta, where they secured a commanding 79-run win before their second encounter was washed out.

Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Naeem have led the charge with the bat for Qalandars, while Shaheen, Haris Rauf and Rishad Hossain have spearheaded the bowling attack.

Quetta, meanwhile, have enjoyed a dramatic turnaround after finishing last in 2023.

Their success this season has been fueled by consistent performances from Hasan Nawaz, Rilee Rossouw and a bowling unit featuring Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Amir.

Both captains promised a highly competitive final to close out what has been a landmark 34-match edition of the HBL PSL.


Bryson DeChambeau’s wild ride: LIV Golf star gets taste of speed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Bryson DeChambeau’s wild ride: LIV Golf star gets taste of speed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Updated 25 May 2025
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Bryson DeChambeau’s wild ride: LIV Golf star gets taste of speed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Bryson DeChambeau’s wild ride: LIV Golf star gets taste of speed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • Majority of golf fans know of his highly publicized exodus to the LIV tour and his tremendous success in the majors, including the US Open, where he will be the defending champion at Oakmont in a few weeks
  • But millions of mainstream sports fans, especially in younger demographics, know him just as well — perhaps even better — from his YouTube channel, which boasts nearly 2 million followers

INDIANAPOLIS: Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau once hit a golf ball 221 mph with his driver.

Exactly as fast as some of the drivers will be going in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.

“It would be really cool,” DeChambeau mused Saturday, sitting on a perch that overlooks the front stretch at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, “to hit a ball down the straightaway, see if you could land it in a car going by you.”

Sounds like an interesting challenge.

Then again, DeChambeau is all about the challenges these days.

Sure, the majority of golf fans know of his highly publicized exodus to the LIV tour and his tremendous success in the majors, including the US Open, where he will be the defending champion at Oakmont in a few weeks.

But millions of mainstream sports fans, especially in younger demographics, know him just as well — perhaps even better — from his YouTube channel, which boasts nearly 2 million followers. There, DeChambeau takes on a myriad of challenges: trying to break 50 with partners ranging from fellow LIV star Sergio Garcia to President Donald Trump, attempting to set scoring records at random public courses that he’s never even seen, even playing matches against some top junior players.

The overwhelming success of the channel, coupled with an infectious personality that has been on full display everywhere from the Masters to the PGA Championship last week, has allowed DeChambeau to transcend the sport of golf.

“I saw what Dude Perfect was doing, and then Mr. Beast, and they grew the channels like crazy, and encapsulated a massive audience, and I was like, ‘Man, I’m a sports player. I’m a professional. Like, why can’t I do that?’” DeChambeau said. “So I took it upon myself — I found the right team, got started, and five years later, here we are.”

Right in the middle of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, often referred to as the “Racing Capital of the World.”

DeChambeau was there in part to film a behind-the-scenes documentary for LIV, which has a tournament in August just north of Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills. But he also was taking in the scene on the eve of the biggest single-day sporting event in the world, one that is expected to draw a sellout crowd of 350,000 fans on Sunday.

DeChambeau spent time with Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin. He launched tee shots with Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood off the Turn 2 terrace onto Brickyard Crossing, the golf course with four holes inside the track. And he climbed into a fire suit for a two-seater ride around the 2.5-mile oval at speeds approaching 180 mph.

“Going around the track was actually insane,” DeChambeau said. “I went off and I mean, it was the craziest. Now I understand racing. Yeah, I get it, like that feeling — a rush. It’s unlike anything you can experience elsewhere. It’s a rollercoaster, but way faster and lower to the ground, and I hated rollercoasters growing up. The G-forces are just incredible.”

Others taking part in his session Saturday included WWE star Titus O’Neil, members of the rock band Creed, Grammy nominee Omar Apollo, Mary and Romain Bonnet from “Selling Sunset” and “Shadowhunters” actress Katherine McNamara.

These are the kinds of things DeChambeau might not have done early in his career. But his YouTube channel, and his success in all avenues of social media, has made him more comfortable in situations that might have pushed his boundaries.

“I’ve kind of gotten out of my box more,” he said. “This is another one where I was like, ‘You just got to go.’ I wasn’t afraid at all. It was just, ‘What am I going to feel like?’ The unknown. And I’m like, ‘I’m not in control of this at all.’

“And then you get to that first corner and you’re like, ‘My goodness, am I in for a treat.’ And feeling that the whole way around, and looking up through the helmet. I can’t imagine what it’s like on race day with 32 others out there.”

DeChambeau’s schedule will keep him from sticking around to see it in person. But he plans to be watching on TV on Sunday.

“Kirkwood, I mean, he’s awesome. I really like him,” DeChambeau said. “And he’s a decent golfer, too, as well.”


George Floyd’s uncertain legacy is marked five years on

George Floyd’s uncertain legacy is marked five years on
Updated 25 May 2025
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George Floyd’s uncertain legacy is marked five years on

George Floyd’s uncertain legacy is marked five years on
  • An anniversary event is taking place in what has been named George Floyd Square

MINNEAPOLIS: Americans on Sunday mark five years since George Floyd was killed by a US police officer, as President Donald Trump backtracks on reforms designed to tackle racism.
Floyd’s deadly arrest on May 25, 2020 helped launch the Black Lives Matter movement into a powerful force that sought to resolve America’s deeply rooted racial issues, from police violence to systemic inequality.
But since Trump’s return to power in January — he was serving his first term when Floyd died — his administration has axed civil rights investigations and cracked down on diversity hiring initiatives.
BLM, meanwhile, finds itself lacking the support it enjoyed when protesters sprawled across US cities during the Covid pandemic — with many now agreeing the movement achieved little of substance.
An anniversary event is taking place in what has been named George Floyd Square, the area of Minneapolis where the 46-year-old took his final breath as police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck during an arrest.
A small junction in a residential part of the northern US city, the square is covered with protest art including a purple mural that reads “You Changed the World, George.”
That optimistic message painted in 2020 is now, however, at odds with a president whose more extreme allies have suggested he pardon Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering Floyd and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison.
Some experts believe Trump’s re-election was partly a backlash to BLM activism, which included protests that turned to riots in some cities and calls to defund the police.
Floyd’s family members told AFP in Minneapolis on Friday that they wanted people to continue pushing for reform despite the hostile political climate.
“We don’t need an executive order to tell us that Black lives matter,” said his aunt Angela Harrelson, who wore a dark T-shirt depicting Floyd’s face.
“We cannot let a setback be a holdback for the great comeback. Donald Trump just didn’t get the memo,” she added to nods from other relatives standing beside her.
Paris Stevens, a Floyd cousin, agreed: “No one can silence us anymore.”
The Floyd relatives, with around 50 other people, held a moment of silence on Friday afternoon before placing yellow roses on the roadside spot where Floyd’s fatal arrest was filmed and shared around the world.
It was a moment of reflection — others include a candlelight vigil on Sunday night — during a weekend otherwise devoted to music, arts and dancing.
Memorial events have been held annually since Floyd’s death and the theme for this one — “The People Have Spoken” — was suggested by Nelson Mandela’s grandson Nkosi when he visited the square, according to Harrelson.
She said the defiant title was meant to reflect five years of protesting, adding that “even though it’s tiresome, we go on.”
Visitors are expected to pay their respects through the weekend.
Jill Foster, a physician from Minneapolis, told AFP at the square on Friday that she felt honoring Floyd’s legacy was partly a form of political resistance.
“Under the Trump administration, everything is trying to be rewritten and a new reality created,” the 66-year-old said.
“We have to keep the memory going and keep the information flowing.”
Meanwhile, for Courteney Ross, Floyd’s girlfriend when he died, the anniversary weekend brings up powerful feelings of personal loss.
“I miss him so much, I miss him by my side,” Ross, 49, told AFP, dressed in black and holding a bunch of yellow roses.
“It’s beautiful to see all the people come out and celebrate him,” she added.
“You see a unification that you don’t get a lot in this country lately, and people are celebrating a man who, you know, gave his life for us.”


Over 1,245 wild animals resettled so far in Saudi Arabia’s largest natural reserve

Over 1,245 wild animals resettled so far in Saudi Arabia’s largest natural reserve
Updated 25 May 2025
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Over 1,245 wild animals resettled so far in Saudi Arabia’s largest natural reserve

Over 1,245 wild animals resettled so far in Saudi Arabia’s largest natural reserve
  • More than 120 wildlife births also recorded at King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve

TURAIF: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve (KSRNR), Saudi Arabia’s largest, has so far resettled more than 1,245 wild animals, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The reserve has also recorded over 120 births among its wildlife, SPA said, citing records of the KSRNR Development Authority as it marked International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22.

Located in the Kingdom’s north, the reserve is home to over 290 species of migratory birds, more than 550 types of wild and grazing plants, and over 350 species of various mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

KSRNR is home to over 290 species of migratory birds. (SPA photo)

Among these animals are the rare deer, the Arabian gazelle, the Arabia oryx, and the kestrel, a medium-sized bird of prey.

KSRNR covers an area of 130,000 square kilometers, spanning the provinces of Hail, Tabuk, Jouf, and the Northern Borders.

Map of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve. (Courtesy of KSRNR)

The reserve hosts a diversity of physical geography, consisting of 14 geographic formations of mountains, plains, and plateaus, and rare monuments dating back to about 8,000 BC.

Also within the reserve are villages, such as Al Qurayyat and Tubarjal towns in the Jouf and the city of Turaif in the Northern Borders. 

The authority has said the reserve is dedicated to preserving unique natural habitats, transforming into a haven for wildlife, a crucial stopover for migratory birds each year, and a natural sanctuary with its balanced environment and diverse landscapes.

Since its inception, the authority has focused on raising environmental awareness within the local community to bolster its conservation efforts.

Citizens participate in the KSRNR's vegetation program as part of the national effort make the Kingdom greener and combat desertification. (SPA photo)

Last year, the KSRNR authority also reported having planted more than 2,400,000 seedlings, rehabilitated 700,000 hectares, removed 119 tons of hazardous waste, and scattered 4 tons of local seeds in the reserve.

The voluntary seed scattering initiative covered six valleys on reserve territory, including Nayal Valley of Niall Shuaib Abu Talihat, Fager Valley, Shaib al Qilayyib, Sarbout Plath, Mot and Masaha Valleys. 

“The two-month initiative aims to develop vegetation and increase the green area of the reserve, with the participation of several voluntary associations and volunteers, by scattering an estimated four tons of seeds,” the authority posted on its website.