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In this project, we discuss the phenomenon of UAV warfare. By conducting a discourse analysis of two speeches, one conducted by then counterterrorism advisor John Brennan and one by President Barack Obama, we investigate how UAV use is justified. We briefly discuss the historical background and contemporary public opinion in order to contextualize the discourse presented in the two speeches. The discourse analysis is structured in three analytical categories: how are representations of identity are articulated, how the speakers make claims about the future and finally the specific nature of the justifications of UAV use. Finally, we discuss how our empirical findings relate to the discussion of the changing nature of warfare, as well as we present a brief critique of a position in the current UAV debate. Our main argument in this discussion is that UAVs should be discussed within the social, discursive practice they are used, and not regarded merely as technological objects distinct from the context they exist in.

This project was set out to explore the role of the Turing Test in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with emphasis on the historical perspective. This report contains an introductory presentation of the Turing Test and Artificial Intelligence. Furthermore, it presents two methods for analysis. The first method is a quantitative search in extracting the number of results from Google Scholars for search range between 1950 and 2019. The searched terms are ‘Turing Test’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence’. The second method is the one used for the analysis of two case studies, ELIZA and Google Duplex. In exploring the historical development, ELIZA is an early research topic from 1966 and Google Duplex is a contemporary project from 2018. This report concludes that the Turing Test appears to have played a role in the historical development of AI. Results from the quantitative search show that there is an exponential growth, followed by a short stabilisation, before it begins to decay towards the last decade. Both case studies failed when subjected to a strict Turing Test. Though when subjected to the Total Turing Test, Google Duplex seems to surpass it. Finally, this report also concludes that the Turing Test may no longer be relevant, as mediums for AI have evolved beyond text-based and most developments are no longer concerned with tricking humans.