Robots could demand legal rights

[Mikethehack]

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 obliged 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.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6200005.stm

[zedminster]

do i have to compete with robots to get foodstamps?

[zedminster]

my dog should be able to vote, but she can't speak english.

[tlcfj40]

Does this mean my kids can live out my dreams of being Blade Runners when the robots get too uppity?

[denise]

i assumed ROB already had rights and responsibilities.

though i'm not sure replication should be one of them ;)

[Medevac]

Goddam tinbacks, comin' here and takin' our jobs!

[Mikethehack]

Goddam tinbacks, comin' here and takin' our jobs!

Aaah! Medevac is a robophobe. Making statements like that could get you banned from the BFC. We don't like Luddites here :-)

[Medevac]

Robophobic and proud - comin' her and takin' our wimmin - I'm sure I heard a suspicious buzzing noise coming from the wifes side of the bed the other night.

[Sri Lanky]

A lot of people are robots.

[OneLungMcClung]

They'll kill us all off long before they demand rights. Didn't you guys see any of the Terminator movies? Hollywood wouldn't lie to us.

[loki547]

that shoots the shit out of my idea for the computerized trauma dolls

[Skirita]

So, after I pass the bar, I'm going to have to deal with the occasional "I want more life, fucker"? I knew I should have gone to grad school. Fuck.

[Mikethehack]

Robophobic and proud - comin' her and takin' our wimmin - I'm sure I heard a suspicious buzzing noise coming from the wifes side of the bed the other night.

My forensic skills tell me that this robot is about 10 inches long and is technically known as a rampant rabbit. Either that or she left her electric tooth brush on....(Robots make the best lovers, hint hint)

[yorick]

Actually yeah - wise to assign personality to machines and inanimate objects too. Question of spiritual allocation/empowerment thats granted as given.

Now the question remains, as raised by bro. sri lankey elsewhere... does machines enslave the human race or potentially *replace* us?

Spaekin from the soul one then must navigate the possibility of one's energy form returning after death in governance/occupancy of silicon chip. Not the worst that can occur. Although this arguably runs contraire to alchemical laws of perpetual evolution, nevertheless we must accept the fact that diety/omniety equally sheds its light upon even the most humble bits of matter as upon the most sentient of beings.

Finally lets reconnoitre whether or not robotics and hyper-tech development has *almost* surpassed evolution of human comprehension at large. Clearly technology has vastly accelerated in its advancement far beyond human potential at this time, given the amount of good that could be accomplished if/when sentient beings learn to step beyond their own self-centered wants and needs. Meanwhile human behaviour among nations (subject to internal/unwanted political manipulation of their own design) appear to be at quagmire anticipating Nth dimensional openings that've been promised to occur even in the next several years.



(:=

[flipflop]

Robotics/cybernetics is a lot more promising for the future of the biosphere's intelligence lasting to the post-human stage than mere human evolution - look at us, most humans still superstitious and irrational, we're floundering.

"Post-human" will be either the natural Darwinian evolution from meat-sacks to crossovers with synthetic materials or the total extinction of meat-shit to be replaced with non-organic intelligence - A1, robotics, etc.

I'd put my money on old humanoids like us being extinct and replaced just like the dinosaurs in the not too distant future.

Enjoy your pathetic existence while it lasts humans! Your time is nearly up

Cheers