Subject:
New Patent issued for Ten Ethical Laws of Robotics
Author:
anonymous
Date:
7/3/2004
In concert with the upcoming release of the Sci-Fi movie, I, Robot, interest
has similarly mounted for the recently issued U.S. patent concerning ethical
artificial intelligence titled: Inductive Inference Affective Language
Analyzer Simulating AI. This innovative patent (# 6,587,846) introduces the
newly proposed concept of the Ten Ethical Laws of Robotics: a system that
radically expands upon previous ethical-robotic systems. As implied in its
title, this patent represents the first AI system incorporating
ethical/motivational terms: enabling a computer to reason and speak
ethically, serving in roles specifying sound human judgement. These Ten
Ethical Laws directly expand upon Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, an
earlier Science Fiction construct (from I, Robot) that aimed to rein in the
potential conduct of the futuristic AI robot.. Indeed, Asimov's first two
laws state that (1) a robot must not harm a human (or through inaction allow
a human to come to harm), and (2) a robot must obey human orders (unless
conflicting with rule #1). Although this cursory system of safeguards proves
intriguing in a Sci-Fi sense, it nevertheless remains simplistic in its
dictates, leaving open the specific details for implementing such a system.
The newly patented Ten Ethical Laws fortunately remedy such a shortcoming,
representing a general overview of the enduring conflict pitting virtue
against vice: the virtues of which are partially listed below:
Glory/Prudence Honor/Justice
Providence/Faith Liberty/Hope
Grace/Beauty Free-will/Truth
Tranquility/Ecstasy Equality/Bliss
Dignity/Temperance Integrity/Fortitude
Civility/Charity Austerity/Decency
Magnanim./Goodness Equanimity/Wisdom
Love/Joy Peace/Harmony
The Ten Ethical Laws are written in a positive style of formal mandate,
focusing on the virtues to the necessary exclusion of the corresponding
vices, as formally listed at:
www.angelfire.com/rnb/fairhaven/ethical-laws.html
The purely virtuous mode (by definition) is fully cognizant of the
contrasting realm of the vices, without necessarily responding in kind.
Furthermore, the corre-sponding hierarchy of the vices listed below
contrasts point-for-point with the respective virtuous mode (the overall
patent is actually composed of 320 individual terms).
Infamy/Insurgency Dishonor/Vengeance
Prodigal/Betrayal Slavery/Despair
Wrath/Ugliness Tyranny/Hypocrisy
Anger/Abomination Prejudice/Perdition
Foolishness/Gluttony Caprice/Cowardice
Vulgarity/Avarice Cruelty/Antagonism
Oppression/Evil Persecution/Cunning
Hatred/Iniquity Belligerence/Turpitude
With such ethical safeguards firmly in place, the AI computer is formally
prohibited from expressing the corresponding vices, allowing for a truly
flawless simulation of virtue. Indeed, these Ten Ethical Robotic Laws hold
th
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