Army of None

Army of None explores the rapid advancement of autonomous weapons technology and the geopolitical race among nations to develop increasingly independent military systems. Singer traces the history of automation in warfare, from cruise control in missiles to fully autonomous drones, and examines real-world deployments and near-misses that have already occurred.

The book argues that without deliberate policy intervention, the world is sleepwalking into an era of machines making life-and-death decisions without human control. Singer presents case studies from multiple countries and military contexts, demonstrating how autonomous systems are already being integrated into defense strategies.

Singer calls for urgent international governance, drawing parallels to nuclear weapons treaties and other arms control frameworks. He outlines concrete policy proposals and explores the technical, legal, and ethical challenges of regulating autonomous weapons before they proliferate beyond control.