It's about time! And if you don't like it, you can kiss my shiny metal a...
Posted on 12/21/2006 7:33:03 AM PST by Solitar
Robots could one day demand the same citizen's rights as humans, according to a study by the British government.
If granted, countries would be obligated to provide social benefits including housing and even "robo-healthcare", the report says. The predictions are contained in nearly 250 papers that look ahead at developments over the next 50 years. Other papers, or "scans", examine the future of space flight and methods to dramatically lengthen life spans. "We're not in the business of predicting the future, but we do need to explore the broadest range of different possibilities to help ensure government is prepared in the long-term and considers issues across the spectrum in its planning," said Sir David King, the government's chief scientific adviser. "The scans are aimed at stimulating debate and critical discussion to enhance government's short and long term policy and strategy."
Robot rights
The research was commissioned by the UK Office of Science and Innovation's Horizon Scanning Centre. The 246 summary papers, called the Sigma and Delta scans, were complied by futures researchers, Outsights-Ipsos Mori partnership and the US-based Institute for the Future (IFTF). The papers look forward at emerging trends in science, health and technology. The scans explore a diverse range of areas from the future of the gulf stream and the economic rise of India, to developments in nanotechnology and the threat posed by HIV/AIDS. As well as assessing the current state of thinking the research also examines the possible implications for society. The paper which addresses Robo-rights, titled "Utopian dream or rise of the machines" examines the developments in artificial intelligence and how this may impact on law and politics. The paper says a "monumental shift" could occur if robots develop to the point where they can reproduce, improve themselves or develop artificial intelligence. The research suggests that at some point in the next 20 to 50 years robots could be granted rights. If this happened, the report says, the robots would have certain responsibilities such as voting, the obligation to pay taxes, and perhaps serving compulsory military service. Conversely, society would also have a duty of care to their new digital citizens, the report says. It also warns that the rise of robots could put a strain on resources and the environment. "These scans are tools for government to identify risks and opportunities in the future," said Sir David.
If you remove a gear from a robot, is that an abortion?
More like voting rights.
Pretty soon we'll be getting press releases from CARR (Council on American-Robotic Relations) demanding apologies for one thing or another.
So let me guess, for purposes of this study they watched a couple of episodes of the new Battlestar Galactica, and maybe read an Isaac Asimov book or two.
It is a potential conundrum, eventually, if we actually make robots that way.
As long as the robots are made by Diebold, that's OK.
No but I think the people that wrote this report should be aborted.
Hey, anybody seen The Terminator?
It's about time! And if you don't like it, you can kiss my shiny metal a...
You better watch out for thos machine politicians.
someone please tell me this a joke and they didn't waste their money on this study
True AI with conventional solid state electronics just isn't going to happen. It's going to require a fundamental change in the nature of computer hardware if it can be done at all.
If you could get an AI to pass a Turing test I might consider granting them at least some rights.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
That's actually pretty funny, at the end I couldn't help but quote Christmas Story in my head "he lay there like a slug, it was his best defense".
"Yes kids, and by the year 2000, you won't have to worry about traffic jams any more, because everyone will have one of these!
If a FReeper was an AI, how could we know?
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