A Republican lawmaker, Rep. Vern Buchanan, is raising concerns about AI robot dogs armed with rifles, a recent development showcased by China’s military during joint drills in Cambodia.

These 110-pound autonomous robots can carry and fire automatic rifles, representing a significant advancement in drone warfare.

Buchanan, emphasizing the strategic importance of AI in military and economic domains, authored an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requiring the U.S. Secretary of Defense to report on the threat posed by China’s military use of AI, including these robot dogs.

Buchanan warned that ignoring such advancements could jeopardize the U.S.’s global military standing, Fox News has reported.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Marine Corps’ Special Forces Operation Command is already using similar robotic quadrupeds for perimeter security.

Written by B.C. Begley