'Robots are not taking over,' says head of UN body on autonomous weapons

• Campaigners warn that a 'killer robots' arms race is already under way
• Amandeep Gill warns against 'emotionalising or dramatising this issue'

"Robots are not taking over the world," the diplomat leading the first official talks on autonomous weapons assured on Friday, seeking to head off criticism over slow progress towards restricting the use of so-called "killer robots".

The United Nations was wrapping up an initial five days of discussions on weapons systems that can identify and destroy targets without human control, which experts say will soon be battle ready.