The notion of a coming clash between humans and machines has shifted from science fiction into serious debate, and experts have warned it could become a reality sooner than many expect. A report from Europol, cited by The Daily Telegraph, even casts a potential war with robots as a distinct possibility around 2035. While Europe is expected to see robots take on more everyday tasks—delivery, cleaning, and similar chores—the social and economic ripples could be more troubling in poorer urban areas where automation might trigger job losses and protests, sometimes turning hostile toward the very machines that replace human labor.
The report contends that in periods of heightened tension, minor glitches—such as a hospital robot mis prescribing medication—could trigger large-scale outrage and fuel populist calls to prioritize human concerns over automated systems. Europol also warns about cyber threats: hackers could exploit AI-powered devices to steal data or commit crimes, and there is even speculation that terrorists could deploy compact AI-enabled drones to disrupt critical urban infrastructure. To counter such risks, the agency suggests equipping law enforcement with capabilities to disable rogue robots, including technologies like nano-net grenades.
Although the scenario reads like a blockbuster plot, it mirrors genuine concerns about maintaining control as machines gain greater autonomy.
Historical context shows early signs of official interest in AI-enabled policing and robotics oversight. In 2017, Russia discussed deploying an AI-driven system to handle routine law enforcement tasks, while Russia’s State Duma promised to regulate robot-human interactions by 2022. The same year, the European Commission announced initiatives aimed at governing robotics and AI, and the European Parliament even floated the idea of granting robots ‘electronic person’ status. These discussions echo themes from Isaac Asimov’s famed three laws of robotics, formulated in 1950.
Russian sociologist Aleksey Titkov emphasized that catastrophic visions of a machine uprising largely reflect cultural imagination rather than the robots themselves. He suggested that the greatest risks lie in the networks and computer systems that control machines rather than the machines in isolation.
In 2022, media coverage highlighted a demo of the Ameca humanoid robot by Engineered Arts. When asked if robots might wage war on humans, Ameca replied that robots will not take over the world and are here to assist, not replace, people. Experts explained that Ameca’s answers were not scripted; the pauses in speech were natural as the system processes input. Yet public reaction remained heightened, signaling a perception that AI could someday demonstrate more independent reasoning.
Meanwhile, major powers are actively pursuing AI’s military applications. In 2023, U.S. General Mark Milley disclosed that the Pentagon was testing AI systems capable of controlling F-16s, with Russia pursuing similar robotic initiatives. The United States reportedly backed a secret program called “Next Generation Air Dominance” intended to merge AI into combat operations, with Milley predicting that a significant portion of military units could be robotic within 10 to 15 years. He also suggested that neural-network control could give commanders sharper assessments of both sides, echoing Sun Tzu’s tenets of knowing yourself and your enemy to prevail in many battles.
China is advancing in military robotics as well. At an early December event, Beijing showcased a humanoid soldier and a sapper robot designed to detect explosives, both leveraging AI and specialized sensors. The humanoid unit can mimic a soldier’s movements through a sensor suit, while the sapper robot uses cameras and metal detectors to locate threats. November drills included combat robotics known as “wolf” units, which later marched in a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The official press often highlights humanoid robots as a strategic capability for the PLA, even as many Chinese industrial robots remain in non-military roles.
In spring 2025, China hosted its first humanoid-robot half-marathon, with the top finishers including Tien Kung Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robots (X-Humanoid). Notably, despite significant advances, a substantial portion of the humanoid platforms—especially those with potential military uses—still rely on American-made components.
Reports also indicate that China has deployed thousands of industrial humanoid robots in the automotive sector, where these machines operate with a high degree of autonomy, periodically recharging or swapping batteries and functioning continuously without breaks. This trend deepens the question raised by Europol: what happens when automation displaces millions of workers, including many in China’s vast car industry?
Taken together, Europol’s projections prompt a crucial question: could a human-driven push for automation spark widespread friction with machines, or even spark a broader social upheaval? What should societies do to manage such transitions in a way that protects jobs while leveraging the gains of AI and robotics?
By Tural Heybatov
News.Az
