On 29 November Warwick District United Nations Association welcomes Alexander Davies from the London School of Economics (LSE) to speak on the topic

Killer Robots and Lethal Autonomy:

Towards Multilateral Policy on Autonomous Weapon Systems

This will be a hybrid event, open to both in-person at Leamington Spa Baptist Church, Chandos Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 4RN and online via this link.

Artificial intelligence and automation are transforming the modern battlefield. The rise of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) — machines capable of selecting and engaging targets without direct human intervention — poses one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Drawing on the latest research and on-the-ground developments in Ukraine — the first major conflict in which AI and autonomous systems are playing a central role — Alexander explores how these technologies are reshaping warfare and international law.

The discussion will highlight the growing momentum within the United Nations toward developing multilateral frameworks to regulate or ban lethal autonomous weapons, alongside analysing the challenges towards regulation and asking questions such as:

• How does AI and autonomous weaponry shape modern warfare and global security?
• In what ways have the tools of war evolved—and what do those changes mean for ethics, strategy, and international law?
• How can the UN address the growing security risks posed by rapid technological change?

About our Speaker

Alexander J. Davies is a doctoral candidate at LSE’s Department of International Relations. . He coordinates LSE’s Security and Statecraft Research Cluster and previously served as Deputy Editor of Millennium: Journal of International Studies.

His research explores how domestic politics shape international security and military alliances.

Alexander has taught courses at LSE including American Grand Strategy, International Security, and From Cyberwar to Killer Robots: Emerging Technology and International Security. Alexander is an Associate Fellow of the British Higher Education Academy and has received five teaching awards for excellence in teaching, including the LSE Summer School Class Teacher Award in both 2024 and 2025.

He holds an MSc in International Relations (with Distinction) from LSE and a BA in Politics and International Relations (First Class) from the University of Nottingham. Beyond academia, he brings over ten years of experience as the Founder and Director of a UK-based 3D environment design studio.