Navigating the Dual-Use Dilemma: Open access to research drives innovation, but how can we avoid unintended consequences?
Associate Professor Ludovic Righetti co-authored an op-ed addressing dual-use risks in open-source robotics. The piece warns that while open-access platforms like ROS democratize robotics innovation, they also enable misuse by military actors and criminals who can easily repurpose civilian drone technology. Righetti and co-author Vincent Boulanin propose a four-part roadmap: education on responsible innovation, incentives for risk assessment, content moderation mechanisms, and establishing red lines for unacceptable applications to balance openness with security.
