"I, Robot" - Ethical Quandaries of Robotics

"The Three Laws of Robotics"

Have you heard about them?

 What are they?

 Why are they?

I, Robot

Book of short stories by Isaac Asimov

(c) 1950

Movie “based” on book

released in 2004

Book much better!

(my opinion, your mileage may vary)

Here are just a couple of the many

       cover images over the years…

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Stories are based on…

The “three laws of robotics”

What are they?

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The 3 Laws:

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 the orders given 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.

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Theme of stories is…

The 3 laws conflict

They form an ethical code with “problems”

Can anyone think of how they might conflict?

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Let’s look at the story plots

…because each story is based on a conflict

Warning: I am ignoring reading pleasure – go read it yourself!

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“Robbie”

Robbie is a nannybot

When the parents send Robbie away…

Little Gloria is heartbroken

What should Robbie do?

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“Runaround”

Setting: Mining colony on Mercury

Speedy is the robot

He is ordered to fetch liquid selenium from a lake

Does not return…what happened?

He’s circling the lake, acting “drunk”

The problem:

Selenium is dangerous to him

3rd law is strong because he’s expensive

2nd law is weak because order was so casual

So he’s stuck at a distance where they balance

Can a law be “strengthened” or “weakened”?

Is this conflict really a possibility?

What should Speedy do?

What should the colonists do?

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“Reason”

 Setting:

Space station beaming energy to Earth

QT1 (“Cutie”) is a new, advanced AI robot

QT1 concludes that Earth, stars…do not exist

“I myself, exist, because I think”

QT1 decides humans are inferior

Problem:

QT1 is responsible for aiming the beam

One mistake could fry a city

The humans on the ship are in a frenzy

What happens?

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“Catch That Rabbit”

Robot DV-5 (“Dave”)

It controls several remote bots by RF

But the remote bots just “dance”

When humans observe, they work again

(The problem was called a “Heisenbug”)

Why?

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Resolution:

Dave gets confused by too much complexity

Human observers reduce the complexity

Solution: deactivate one remote robot

Now there is less complexity

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“Liar!”

Robot RB-34 (“Herbie”)

Story has first known occurrence of term “robotics”

Poor Herbie has a manufacturing defect

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He’s telepathic…

…ok, let’s allow some artistic license here

What to do when telling the truth hurts a human?

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So Herbie is always lying!

What could happen?

What should Herbie do?

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In the story -

Herbie is told of the problem

…seeing no way out

He freezes up permanently

Time for a new robot

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“Escape”

A new hypersmart AI designs a hyperspatial space drive

The crew takes off

But…no showers, beds, or any food besides beans and milk

What’s the problem?

The AI is off kilter because during the hyperspace jump the crew ceases to exist briefly

Problem: AI thinks that conflicts with 1st law

What’s the solution?

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“Evidence”

Byerly survives a wreck

Later, runs for office

Opponent Quinn accuses him of being a robot

…made to look like Byerly

How can Byerly prove he’s not a robot?

Office holders must be human!

(Is that a good rule?)

He eats an apple

Proof?

He has a right not to be x-rayed, etc.

What can he do to prove humanness and win the election?

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A heckler runs onto stage during a speech

Demands Byerly hit him

(What would that prove?)

Byerly does!

How could Byerly do that *if* he was a robot?

Would a robot be a good leader?

Note: the story never says if he is or is not a robot

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“The Evitable Conflict”

Byerly is now World Co-ordinator

Robots/AIs control many decisions

But some decisions are harming some humans!

Why?

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Robots are interpreting the 1st law as “humanity” shall not come to harm

This would seem to require occasionally harming individuals

What should the AIs actually do?

The robots are in control

Should they be removed?

Still never resolved:

Whether Byerly is a robot or a human

Guest speaker: Harry E. Pence, PhD

Dr. Pence is a chemist and State University of New York Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus. He presently serves as a Faculty Fellow for Emerging Technologies at the Teaching and Learning with Technology Center at the campus in Oneonta, NY. He has written and presented frequently about emerging learning technologies and has served on several state-wide and national committees that deal with this topic. He is a co-editor, along with Dr. Robert Belford (UALR Chemistry Dept.) of the recently published American Chemical Society book, "Enhancing Learning with Online Resources, Social Networking, and Digital Libraries," and co-authored two chapters in that book.

"Scientific Proof" - an Idea Debunked

1. Let us find out what "scientific proof" really means
. . . and what it doesn't

     We can relate this to 
         daily life
         Earth 2100
         or whatever we feel like discussing

A starting point:
    What is the difference between
    science
    and
    mathematics?




2. Math:
prove new things
based on
existing knowledge

Mathematical reasoning is:
deductive

• 1+1=2
• 2+2=4
• Therefore,
• 1+1+1+1=4
• (proof by substitution)

• All men are mortal
• Socrates is a man
• Therefore,
• Socrates is mortal
• (proof by "syllogism")

• Deduction can prove things
• Mathematics uses deduction
• Therefore,
• mathematics can prove things
• (proof by syllogism again!)

3. Science is different from math!

• Science is based on:
• induction
• (not deduction)
• All apples that break off the tree,
• fall down
• Therefore, if I shake this apple tree,
• and an apple breaks off,
• it will fall down
• Not a proof!
• Can you think of a counterexample?

• That which goes up has always come down
• Therefore, if I throw this up, it will come down
• Not a proof! Can you think of a counterexample?

4. Science needs more than induction

Humankind has always sought reasons

Scientists call those reasons
"theories" and "hypotheses"

Theories are the BIG ones

• relativity
• evolution
• continental drift/plate tectonics

Hypotheses are the >little< ones

• If the ground gets waterlogged,
• water will get into my basement
• IFSC majors 
• are more employable 
• than physics majors

Conclusion. . .
Math proves;
science does not prove!

Science disproves
(by refuting inductive "truths")

Science explains
(using theories)

Science predicts
(because the theories predict)

5. The phrase "scientific proof" makes no sense!

• Science does not prove things!
• It explains things and finds evidence
• If only everyone actually knew that
• Not just you, but also
• reporters,
• spokespeople,
• politicians
• the average person

6. Example: Global Warming

7. Example: Various medical advice

8. Example: US legal system

9. Example: More speculative science

                    ("Do toxoplasma germs control humanity?")

EIT SUPER program

Could you help publicize the following points  in your class? Thanks for your
help.

*****************************************
1. Interested in a paid, summer research opportunity ?
2. Minimum GPA of 3.22 is desirable but not essential
3. Sophomores and Juniors preferred, but all students welcome to apply
4. Apply by March 15 to be fully considered

COME JOIN US FOR  INFO. SESSION AND LUNCH ON Feb 26th , 12.15 PM in EIT 203
*************************************************

http://ualr.edu/eit/2013-eit-super-program/

Futurists and an example: Millenium Project

Futurist Organization Examples


Futurism community is characterized in part by

       people running their own

               organizations

                         and

               small consulting companies


Here are just a few examples

      Lifeboat.com

            Publishing book now

                  We could look at potential covers

            Notice the various programs


       Faithpopcorn.com

            Notable mainly for its splash page


       Institute for the Future

            One of the biggest

                (see e.g. Wikipedia article)

            At one time featured Paul Saffo

                See bio

                Turns out he is not the founder or leader


       The Millenium Project

             What does "millenium" mean?

             Founder and head is Jerome Glenn

                  see bio

             Let's look at the splash page

             Click to see video intro to their

                    Global Futures Intelligence System

             They have 4 major activities

                    Click "About Us" to see

                         Note the 4

                         Click "Short Powerpoint..." for details

             

             Note the "On-Going Programs"



             1. Futures Research Methodology

                    See CD

                    Helped to design this course

                    Let's see the web page           



             2. State of the Future annual reports

                    Let's click for that page as well



             3. Special futures research projects



             4. Global Futures Intelligence System

                    Click "Press Room" at top to see the news

                    Go back and click to go to the GFIS


GFIS

   Let's check over the page at themp.org

   Activate the  Introduction  button

Got to here Sp '13

   Let's go through the challenges 1 by 1

        How would you solve these

             What does GFIS say?


As time allows

     Look at the other links on the GFIS page
     

Question form for guest lectures

Your name:___________________________

Directions: please write three (or more) questions that occur to you during the guest lecture. I will collect them, and possibly use them to ask the guest during the discussion period after the talk, as needed. This is worth points (see HW).

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Welcome to Spring 2013!

All postings below this point are from a previous time this course was taught.