Technological convergence describes the tendency for independent systems to merge or interact with each other, producing new outcomes. In the defence sector, converging technologies (CTs) are expanding the potential for innovation in the development of autonomous weapons systems (AWS). The United States and China are innovating stronger military technologies through civil-military fusion. Both states are leveraging CTs such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen their weapons. Great power rivalry, coupled with a lack of incentives to stop progress, highlights non-compliance issues that may come with hardline bans against AWS development. States such as China and the United States can be framed as rivals but they fundamentally agree that AI should be developed and used safely. State actors must come to international agreements on what is considered appropriate ratios of human-to-machine judgement in military technology and frameworks for the safe use of CTs in the military domain. Continued academic and general discourse is necessary to further establish concrete policy.
