Are Asimov's Laws of Robotics Ethical?

[Katamariguy]

1.A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2.A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3.A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Does this basically prohibit free will and suicide?

 

[Eejit]

Whose free will?

It certainly could pose problems for euthanasia (assuming said euthanasia doesn't fall under the zeroth law ) depending on how the robots define "harm"

 

[Asknoone]

1.A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2.A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3.A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Does this basically prohibit free will

Mhhhhm.

 

[The Monkey]

Quite obviously.

I guess it could pose a problem if and when the robots become more assimilated in society and can expect begin to receive equal right as humans. Then it's a bit controversial that they should not defend themselves when attacked if some human tells them not to.

 

[Eejit]

Zeroth Law: good idea or bad idea?

 

[Yorick]

Zeroth Law: good idea or bad idea?

All of the laws are simplified and vague about what would and wouldn't be acceptable. The entire concept of "AI stops letting humans be self-destructive" (which typically leads to some kind of war), comes because of the first law saying they can't by way of inaction let humans come to harm. Which is exactly what happens if you do nothing, because humans are morons.

I haven't read any of the zeroth law stories, but "A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm." Jesus Christ that sounds even more dangerous.

 

[Solaris]

Well the OP's questions assumes the existence of free will and I can't grant that assumption.

However, this book directly explores the OP's question. It's fairly short, free and excellent to read.

http://www.kuro5hin.org/prime-intellect/mopiidx.html

 

[Remus]

However, this book directly explores the OP's question. It's fairly short, free and excellent to read.

http://www.kuro5hin.org/prime-intellect/mopiidx.html

Read some of it, and ****ing lol, that's some ****ed up shit. When it comes to the post singularity world I doubt Ray Kurzweil had anything like this in mind.

 

[Solaris]

Read some of it, and ****ing lol, that's some ****ed up shit. When it comes to the post singularity world I doubt Ray Kurzweil had anything like this in mind.

Keep going man, it just gets better and better. Totally believable too in my opinion. Later on it starts talking about the singularity and how it happened etc. All totally believable.

 

[15357]

Well the OP's questions assumes the existence of free will and I can't grant that assumption.

However, this book directly explores the OP's question. It's fairly short, free and excellent to read.

http://www.kuro5hin.org/prime-intellect/mopiidx.html

Woah, nice.

 

[Solaris]

Woah, nice.

Good isn't it. Asimov's rules could have scary consequences.

 

[15357]

Yeah, on the second chapter and it's got me hooked. Really, really nice. Thanks.

My own thoughts on AI, or any other form of humanlike intelligence constructs would be never build one. Just use humans wired into physical processors. Has the same effect, but also solves the question of can AI be taught morality and things like that.

 

[CptStern]

who the **** cares when ....

 

[lord_raken]

The entire IRobot series is about all the various interesting and unforeseen ways a robot could logically interpret those three laws. One of my favorites is the one where a robot can read minds and therefore starts lying to protect humans from "emotional" harm.

Now are they ethical? If we are talking for the machines, then yes. Unless we have sentient machines there is no real need to consider the well being of the robots unless we are thinking monetary costs. For humans... I can see them getting in the way of a lot of sporting events.

 

[15357]

Finished reading The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect.

It was... awesome.

 

[Gargantou]

"Thou shalt not make a machine in the image of Man's mind."

Also, that Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect seems very interesting, bookmarked for later reading.

 

[15357]

"Thou shalt not make a machine in the image of Man's mind."

Also, that Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect seems very interesting, bookmarked for later reading.

Straight from the Orange Catholic Bible lol.

You know, I find it extremely interesting that people keep binding AI programming only to the 3 laws of robotics. If I made something even closely resembling an AI, I'd have a kill switch in it somewhere. Instant cessation of all activities, disregarding everything else that might be coded into it, like the 3 laws.

 

[Acepilotf14]

The best thing is Space Station 13, where the captain or a handy hacker can change those laws as they want.

The Fourth Law: A robot must make as many references to the movie King Rat as is physically possible.

 

[Maestro]

Straight from the Orange Catholic Bible lol.

You know, I find it extremely interesting that people keep binding AI programming only to the 3 laws of robotics. If I made something even closely resembling an AI, I'd have a kill switch in it somewhere. Instant cessation of all activities, disregarding everything else that might be coded into it, like the 3 laws.

God I ****ing love Dune. Such a good series. I think this very question of the three laws is considered in-depth by the series Asimov wrote about it. It's a good jumping-off point, and far more relevant to modern man and society than most philosophers' ruminations.

 

[Maestro]

Wow, I just finished reading Metmorphosis. That was really, really good.

 

[Remus]

It was good for entertainment, although a bit too graphic in places for my taste. However I disagree with almost everything in it, especially the moral of the story: "technology is bad mmkay?".

 

[Ennui]

lol

if we get to the point where AI are complex enough for us to argue for their "human" rights, somebody PM me....

with regards to The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect, I love it. I read it several summers ago while on boring long days at work. It's a great read although you shouldn't take it very seriously. And yeah, the gore / incest porn is a bit much in some places, but whatever, it's still a fun thought experiment (even if it deals in extremes).

Also, kuro5hin.org is a great site, although the community takes a few years to really figure out and understand. Also it's basically dead now.

Also Ray Kurzweil might have half a brain but he's really no more credible than your average UFOlogist.

 

[Yorick]

Also Ray Kurzweil might have half a brain but he's really no more credible than your average UFOlogist.

Strongly disagree. Even if you don't agree with Kurzweil, you can't really argue that he doesn't know his stuff.

 

[Asknoone]

Also Ray Kurzweil might have half a brain but he's really no more credible than your average UFOlogist.

Indeed. I find most futurists should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[Gargantou]

The best thing is Space Station 13, where the captain or a handy hacker can change those laws as they want.

The Fourth Law: A robot must make as many references to the movie King Rat as is physically possible.

I didn't know you played SS13 Ace, I used to run a server based of Goon Station 13 in late 2008, was great fun though eventually I gave up hosting because I was solving dispute 90% of the time I was playing.

Also, yes, Dune rocks.

Only finished the first novel though, but gonna try to get through Dune: Messiah and Children of Dune when I head to the countryside during vacation without PC/consoles.

 

[<RJMC>]

I think AI's wont be made to reach human like consciousnes,I think its the best way to avoid all this problems like this