Because drones are overpowered. So the defenders jam. Which means the drones can still fly but can’t be controlled. So they need a pre-programmed target. But things move around on the battlefield so drones need to track. The step from that to automatically identify enemy troops and kill them is just a hop and a skip away. Drones have proven to be the key differentiator in Ukraine. They’ll be important for the next few conflicts (till we’re fighting with sticks and stones again) and they’ll be more effective the smarter they are. Necessity is the mother of invention, we don’t know who the father is, but war blew through here nine months ago and the way they looked at each other oughta tell you somethin.

Putting aside all the ai-recommends-you-eat-a-few-rocks-a-day evidence...

Letting machines incapable of empathy, bereft of accountability for themselves or their creators, make decisions to end one or more lives, is a monstrous idea on its face.

Additionally, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_boomerang