Why it matters: Drones with the ability to autonomously target and kill without the assistance of a human operator are reportedly already being used on battlefields, and time is running out to craft a global ban of what could be a destabilizing and terrifying new class of weapon.

What’s happening: The Future of Life Institute (FLI), a nonprofit focused on existential risks from technology, today released “If Human: Kill ( ),” a video that depicts what the future could be like if lethal autonomous weapons go unregulated.

In a word: horrific. The film splices fictional news clips to show drones and robots armed with automatic weapons using facial recognition to identify and kill political protesters and police, aid bank robberies, and assassinate scientists.