ETHICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS: IDENTIFICATION OF REGULATORY GAPS THROUGH A STRUCTURED ANALYSIS WITH SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY

This study analyzes the ethical, legal, and geopolitical challenges associated with the use of lethal autonomous weapons systems based on Artificial Intelligence. Through the Soft Systems Methodology, the problem was structured considering multiple actors and worldviews. Regulatory gaps, humanitarian risks, and technical limitations of these systems in conflict contexts were identified. The modeling allowed us to propose desirable transformations, structured tasks, and evaluation criteria, in addition to highlighting the importance of human supervision in lethal decisions. The study emphasizes the urgent need for robust international regulations and ethical governance to mitigate the negative impacts of war automation.