South Korea drafting ethical code to prevent humans from abusing robots and vice versa

[Queasy]

Link

An ethical code to prevent humans abusing robots, and vice versa, is being drawn up by South Korea.

The Robot Ethics Charter will cover standards for users and manufacturers and will be released later in 2007.

It is being put together by a five member team of experts that includes futurists and a science fiction writer.

The South Korean government has identified robotics as a key economic driver and is pumping millions of dollars into research.

"The government plans to set ethical guidelines concerning the roles and functions of robots as robots are expected to develop strong intelligence in the near future," the ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said.

Ethical questions

South Korea is one of the world's most hi-tech societies.

Citizens enjoy some of the highest speed broadband connections in the world and have access to advanced mobile technology long before it hits western markets.

The government is also well known for its commitment to future technology.

A recent government report forecast that robots would routinely carry out surgery by 2018.

The Ministry of Information and Communication has also predicted that every South Korean household will have a robot by between 2015 and 2020.

In part, this is a response to the country's aging society and also an acknowledgement that the pace of development in robotics is accelerating.

The new charter is an attempt to set ground rules for this future.

"Imagine if some people treat androids as if the machines were their wives," Park Hye-Young of the ministry's robot team told the AFP news agency.

"Others may get addicted to interacting with them just as many internet users get hooked to the cyberworld."

Alien encounters

The new guidelines could reflect the three laws of robotics put forward by author Isaac Asimov in his short story Runaround in 1942, she said.

Key considerations would include ensuring human control over robots, protecting data acquired by robots and preventing illegal use.

Other bodies are also thinking about the robotic future. Last year a UK government study predicted that in the next 50 years robots could demand the same rights as human beings.

The European Robotics Research Network is also drawing up a set of guidelines on the use of robots.

This ethical roadmap has been assembled by researchers who believe that robotics will soon come under the same scrutiny as disciplines such as nuclear physics and Bioengineering.

A draft of the proposals said: "In the 21st Century humanity will coexist with the first alien intelligence we have ever come into contact with - robots.

"It will be an event rich in ethical, social and economic problems."

Their proposals are expected to be issued in Rome in April.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

The 1st rule of Robotics is Don't talk about Robotics.

 

[k1pp3r]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
The 1st rule of Robotics is Don't talk about Robotics.

I though the first rule was "A robot may never harm a human"

 

[Kadarin]

Sheesh... Isaac Asimov did this many decades ago.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

So, how do you abuse a robot? Make it run Windows?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
So, how do you abuse a robot? Make it run Windows?

I don't know but I'm sure the creators of "Real Dolls" is going to be pissed about it....

 

[Juno]

wow, i'll be asking my distant relatives from south korea in 10 years.

 

[uhohs]

"Imagine if some people treat androids as if the machines were their wives,"

 

[Soundmanred]

It is being put together by a five member team of experts that includes futurists and a science fiction writer.

Futurists = guessers and dreamers.
Sci Fi Writers = dreamers who write things down.

Smashing.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Aside from the ATOT crowd waiting to run out and buy their own Cherry 2000's, how could ANYTHING you do with a robot/android be considered abuse? Self abuse maybe.

 

[rudder]

aren't robots designed to be abused in the first place?

 

[randomint]

i don't think robots will ever be as smart and intelligent as we see in movies like I Robot and Star trek (androids) so it's pointless to spend time and effort in drafting such laws

 

[James Bond]

Robot = Software = Acts on equations, not instinct != Intelligent.

Last year a UK government study predicted that in the next 50 years robots could demand the same rights as human beings.

Robots will only demand rights if they are programmed to do so.

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: randomint
i don't think robots will ever be as smart and intelligent as we see in movies like I Robot and Star trek (androids) so it's pointless to spend time and effort in drafting such laws

I don't think people from the Middle Ages expected humans to transport around in vehicles, fly with planes, and use a medium called "digital information" to communicate with other human beings.

 

[Ktulu]

Robots = Toys/Appliances

Why should they be ethically treated?:roll:

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Ktulu
Robots = Toys/Appliances

Why should they be ethically treated?:roll:

QFT

 

[clamum]

Fvck that. If my robot gets outta line he's getting a b!tch slap.

 

[randomint]

Originally posted by: Dacalo

Originally posted by: randomint
i don't think robots will ever be as smart and intelligent as we see in movies like I Robot and Star trek (androids) so it's pointless to spend time and effort in drafting such laws

I don't think people from the Middle Ages expected humans to transport around in vehicles, fly with planes, and use a medium called "digital information" to communicate with other human beings.

i understand what you are trying to say here and believe me i am a great sci-fi fan and a trekkie but i still have my reservations.

 

[randomint]

Originally posted by: clamum
Fvck that. If my robot gets outta line he's getting a b!tch slap.

ha ha tru dat

 

[Kev]

I'll be too busy in my flying car to worry about how my robot feels.

 

[Goosemaster]

*waits until local 000100001001000 gets wind of this and goes on strike demanding even more concessions from us, "pathethic humans."

 

[TXHokie]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
So, how do you abuse a robot? Make it run Windows?

That will make it prone to "booting". I can see it now - bad robot, turn around, lean forward, BOOT!!!

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
So, how do you abuse a robot? Make it run Windows?

Haha. That made me LOL

 

[RedCOMET]

So there won't be any androids named Gigolo Joe? Or about policemen named Rick Deckard? Will they both be unemployed... think of the economy...

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
So, how do you abuse a robot? Make it run Windows?

Haha. That made me LOL

*imagiens himself beign chased by a robot with the windows install screen up on it's chest-LCD*

:laugh: