Killer robots are “no longer the stuff of science fiction,” Rasha Abdul Rahim, an artificial intelligence researcher for the human rights organization, said. Rahim warned that technological advances are outpacing international law.

At a news conference hosted by the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams said the group wanted “meaningful human control” when it comes to the use of military weapons and negotiations toward a ban on computer-controlled weapons systems.

“There is a lot of movement within the governments: We’re up to 26 now that have called for a ban,” said Williams, who won the 1997 Nobel for her work against land mines. “Logic would dictate — at least in my thinking — that there would be a mandate toward negotiating a binding instrument, and that’s what we’re pushing for here this week.”