Given all the rapid advances in facial (and other biometric) recognition, computing power, and miniaturization, can such things be far off? Experts have said that is pure fantasy, but I doubt it.
I'm sure you've watched the Black Mirror episode "Metalhead." That's another scary one...
The Prof sounds like one of those who were against the A-Bomb development, let alone the dropping of it. I suspect it will end the same way.