Criminal gangs and terrorists could get their hands on murderous artificial intelligence to hunt down enemy targets.

And by being controlled at length, they could make it impossible for the culprits to be traced.

Computer engineer Dr Subhash Kak warned the parts needed to assemble killer robots will prove "not difficult" to buy on the black market.

And before long he said the robots themselves will available to buy, ready to carry out mass murder upon instruction.

The Oklahoma University lecturer told Daily Star Online: "The technology for human assisted killer robots is already here.