Ethical Decision-Making Framework for AI-Powered Autonomous Weapon Systems

Erduan Ismailji’s master’s thesis, entitled „Ethical Decision-Making Framework for AI-Powered Autonomous Weapon Systems“, develops an interdisciplinary decision support framework for the responsible use of AI-powered autonomous weapon systems. The starting point is ethical theories, international humanitarian law, and the technical limitations of today’s AI. Using a design science research approach, a six-step framework is designed and validated through expert interviews. Key elements include the assessment of the deployment context, legal admissibility, ethical and design constraints, human oversight requirements, transparency, and the final deployment decision. The thesis shows that „meaningful human control“ remains indispensable and that existing approaches such as the Ethical Governor alone are not sufficient to close accountability gaps. The result is a practical governance model for decision-makers, developers, and military leaders that systematically integrates ethical and legal standards into the use of autonomous weapon systems. The master’s thesis was defended on January 20, 2026, before Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW School of Business, supervisor) and Prof. Dr. Aurona Gerber (University of the Western Cape, examiner).

Fig.: Autonomous weapons systems are spreading