The Committee Of UAV Replicant Trackers (COURT) argued its case in court today that UAV technology has advanced to the conscious AI stage.

The judges listening to the arguments asked for clarification of consciousness.

The government explained that a clear definition of conscious does not exists; therefore, a remote operator of a UAV is no more conscious than an autonomous UAV seeking out targets.

Lawyers for COURT brought in expert witnesses who pointed out the intelligence level of roaches with augmented reality saddles that are able to carry out covert assignments and had already been given Level 0 Consciousness designation by the World Court; therefore, UAVs should be given at least a Level 0 designation.

Upon cross-examination, the expert witnesses were unable to say whether the kamikaze UAVs sent into battle felt pain when they crashed into enemy locations or were accidentally involved in friendly fire situations.

A final judgment will be issued in the next five years about whether members of the COURT are actually conscious.