As we all know, the US Government is now using unmanned drones to kill people in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Is it a slippery slope to design drones to kill people?
I believe they are currently remote controlled, but the next logical step would be to design autonomous drones (we are already using semi-autonomous rovers for planetary exploration).
Is TERMINATOR Next?
I suppose part of the question is related to another question whether silicone based life was possible. I have no doubt that by the end of this century Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have progressed to the point where it will meet many of the characteristics of life itself. At which point it might be a very bad idea to teach machines and computers how to kill people, and perhaps making judgement calls on the termination of human life.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcfy1bX1_-qBlhbun7_l4DR42BJmQrQCLIyuFdg3Y3rZNtZJzA)