Robotic Litigation

An interesting post on the history of robots in science fiction and the likelihood that a collision between modern robots and our modern litigation system will produce unexpected results.

I've always liked Isaac Asimov's robot series, but I've always had an issue with the three laws. He apparently had similar issues, given he spent the greater part of his life showing why the 3 laws didn't work.

In reality there are two issues with Robotic Intelligence as it is commonly portrayed. All too often this intelligence is preoccupied with the physical. I would expect that any reasonably advanced machine intelligence would consider the physical world a bother, or at best a necessary annoyance in order to safeguard the basis for it's virtual existence.

Secondly the idea that humans can create rules that would constrain a sophisticated intelligence is unlikely. We're much better of creating a system of reasoning that results in the goals of humanity aligning with the goals of the machine intelligence.

We could slave it to our own needs, constructing the intelligence solely to serve the human. This would, of course, limit the flexibility of the machine intelligence, and possibly create dangers in its use (basically a big weapon waiting to be used by evil people). Also this type of machine intelligence isn't so interesting from the point of view of fiction (not enough conflict).

The more likely outcome is the machine intelligence working in partnership with people. Perhaps much more like the employee/employer relationship. Where there is a contract, a period of time under which the contract is fulfilled, and then a termination of the arrangement.

The machine intelligence is trying to get something out of the relationship, as is the human.

This might make the basis for an interesting story. Perhaps one where both sides are not what they appear to be.

Mike