Rise of the machines: As robots become increasingly popular and available, should we devise international ethics guidelines for their use?
Credit: Manfred Werner
"They are set to enter our lives in unprecedented numbers," said Sharkey, expressing fear that an absence of ethical rules fixed by international bodies could mean the machines' control will be left to militaries, the robot industry and busy parents.
Nipping it in the bud
The robotics professor also points to the comments of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who predicted that "over the next few years robots may be a pervasive as the PC."
"We were caught off guard by the sudden increase in Internet use and it would not be a good idea to let that happen with robots," Sharkey said. "It is best if we set up some ethical guidelines now before the mass deployment of robots, rather than wait until they are in common use."
He said it was vital that action be taken on an international level as soon as possible, "rather than let the guidelines set themselves."
I, Robot?
Sharkey has studied robotics for 30 years, and believes such guidelines would not hinder the rise of the machines, about which he is enthusiastic - stressing the benefits that robots can bring "to dangerous work and medicine".
He shrugs off doomsday scenarios presented in books such as Isaac Asimov's I, Robot, which depicts the threatening interaction between robots and humans, or in movies such as the The Terminator, where robots take over the world.
Such story lines will remain firmly in the realm of fantasy, even as societies hurtle towards greater automation, Sharkey said.
"I have no concern whatsoever about robots taking control. They are... machines with computers and sensors and do not think for themselves, despite what science fiction tells us... It is the application of robots by people that concerns me and not the robots themselves."
I Robot, You Knucklehead
"Sharkey has studied robotics for 30 years...He shrugs off doomsday scenarios presented in books such as Isaac Asimov's I, Robot, which depicts the threatening interaction between robots and humans..."
He's studied the subject for three decades, but is unaware that the whole point of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics was to achieve exactly what he's calling for? He's read I, Robot (or has he just watched the stupid rip-off movie?) and failed to notice that Asimov shows harmonious interactions between humans and robots, despite occasional glitches and the hysterical fear of uninformed humans.
Asimov's Three Laws were admittedly shorthand for a vastly complex set of hard-wired ethical directives, but probably wouldn't work. Even so, Sharkey is a nitwit.
I enjoy tacos.
I enjoy tacos.
Who is really the knucklehead
If you read all of the Asimov robot novels you should be aware that Asimov was simply using the Three Laws to show the kinds of philospical conundrums that can arise from the rules. In caves of steel, for example, he illustrated how robots could be deceived into murdering a human.
In the 1980s Asimov introduced the zeroth rule because sometimes killing a human could do best for humanity (utilitarian ethics). So a robot could wipe out a city of humans to save a planet of humans.
This number of conflicts that arise from the laws make them unworkable for actual engineering work. If you have ever programmed a robot or even worked with one you will know that it is difficult for a robot to tell the difference between a washing machine and a human nevermind protect humanity.
They say that ignorance is bliss and you must be very blissful.
robot/people ethics
sharkey says..."It is the application of robots by people that concerns me and not the robots themselves." I worry about parents trusting their kids to the care of a machine. The "psycological impact" should be considered by both manufactors and parents before unleashing machinery on children.
Science vs. Science FICTION
Another good point to make here is that I, Robot is a work of fiction. Hence, Asimov did not show anything about human-robot interactions or their consequences since these events never happened. That would be similar to using Star Trek to say that NASA has not been watching enough Star Trek to realize they could use warp drives to go really fast instead of primitive rockets. Boy won't their faces be red. Actually, if there is any fiction out there that can explain this situation well, its the episode of Futurama where Fry gets a robot girlfriend. However, only take its message with a grain of salt, instead of blinding believing that it is true.