This Version of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Actually Makes Sense
What types of weapons will use self-replication (which in this context means the ability to easily and rapidly make exact copies of themselves on a massive scale without human oversight)?
Here’s a really simple taxonomy. Had some fun with this. All of these use rapid, very difficult to counter self-replication to do massive damage.
Weaponized computer worms/viruses/malware. Legal bot networks that control/manipulate society and markets (think in terms of quant hedge funds). That’s the White horse. Conquest.
Drones/robots. Weaponized drones that at first self-perpetuate by acquiring fuel from the environment. Weaponized drones that can self-replicate ala 3-D fabrication and scavanged materials (think rep-rap). That’s the Red Horse. War.