What are the ethical dilemmas concerning robotics?
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey the orders given by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Is it ethical to replace humans with electronic machines?
AI, which can program machines to not only perform repetitive tasks but also to increasingly emulate human responses to changes in surroundings and react accordingly, is the ideal tool for saving lives. And it is unethical to continue to send humans into harm’s way once such technology is available.
What are the ethical implications of robotics?
The ethical implications of robotics look very different depending on which of these views we adopt. Considering them as tools akin to cars or factory control systems, ‘robot ethics’ solely concerns our responsibilities towards the human community and the environment in our use of robot technology.
Are robots moral agents in their own right?
But if instead we view robots as potential agents or persons, with a degree of autonomy that approaches or may even exceed human autonomy, then ‘robot ethics’ depends upon the notion that robots might in some sense be moral agents in their own right.
Are robots just mechanisms and tools?
On this view, robots are just mechanisms, tools. (Supporters of this view may take a different approach to organic artificial agents.) On a more radical view, robots must seriously be considered to be not merely tools, but subject to ethical considerations in their own right, at least in principle.
Do robot soldiers have moral responsibility?
It might be that robot soldiers carry a moral responsibility for decisions that they make in combat situations, just as human soldiers do. However, if designed along current technological lines, such robots will be totally non-conscious. So this is a case where there would be moral production without moral consumption.