how sae are today's robots? A discussion question on robotics

How safe are robots?

This is a common question discussed due to the popularity of robots in television and film. Most of today’s robots are relatively safe – within certain boundaries, of course. Exercising caution, you are not likely to be killed by robots in today’s society. This is of course a relief for those fearing for your lives. You are also not like to come to a robot face to face, unless you work in an industry near automatic welders, and the like.

In the future however, there will be more human looking robots. Boundaries will be blurred, and you will be thinking ‘will we be hurt? Will they turn against us?’. Rest assured – robots in the future will have to abide by the three laws of robotics. These are:

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 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.

There are loopholes in these laws – the first can be broken unknowingly. In order to combat this, some people have suggested to make to robots altruistic and allow them to us their own judgement. This sidesteps potential unforseen circumstances.