Asimov, the Halo Universe, and his laws of robotics in the real world

[Wes R]

I love to see real world robotics and AI researchers quoting the 3 laws of robotics whenever you see a special on robots or AI research. I think it is the best example of scifi influencing the real world there is. I have no doubt that when the time comes for AI to become a reality, or as close as we manage, that there will be something like the 3 laws in place.
Last night I was reading the new Halo short story book and one of the AI in it quoted the 3 laws as a reason she couldn't destroy the ship with the last surviving human on it.
I've found the laws quoted or just mentioned in alot of books and a few tv shows. Apparently the creators of skynet never thought to install them just in case. Then again like in the later Robot novels the robots never broke the laws but found broader ways of interpreting them. Where have you seen the three laws pop up in books, tv, movies, video games that surprised you?

 

[TheDoctor]

I actually kind of doubt you'll see Asimov's three laws of robotics implemented in real life. The Reason? It would take an incredible amount of interpretation for these laws to come about. Real life is too gray to give these kinds of instructions. A machine, after all, is still a machine - even one with an AI - it's still relies on programmed instructions that exist in the the world of black and white.

 

[Wes R]

True. Its still neat to see scientists seriously talking about them even if they're not usable. I would like to see them used in a better way tthat slapped into a badly written Will smith movie lol.

 

[CatfoodRob]

Asimov was as brilliant as Eienstein . Our hobby owes him a lot .

 

[Wes R]

He has to be the most prolific writer ever. And he had a wicked sense of humor.

 

[SSgt Burton]

Where have you seen the three laws pop up in books, tv, movies, video games that surprised you?

The only reference I can think of (which is not a direct quote of Asimov's 3 Laws but a slight variation) was in "Aliens" spoken by the android Bishop-

"It is impossible for me to harm or by omission of action allow to be harmed a human being."

I actually kind of doubt you'll see Asimov's three laws of robotics implemented in real life. The Reason? It would take an incredible amount of interpretation for these laws to come about. Real life is too gray to give these kinds of instructions. A machine, after all, is still a machine - even one with an AI - it's still relies on programmed instructions that exist in the the world of black and white.

Well I agree that the 3 Laws would be too complex for current A.I.---

However I don't see that they would never be able to be programmed into future A.I.

I'm sure in the 60s communicators were considered impossible. In the 70s "Pong" was state-of-the-art in video games.



Kevin

 

[Wes R]

Heck 20 years ago nobody thought it would get better than nintendo graphics. Who knows were we'll be in another 20.

 

[TheDoctor]

Well I agree that the 3 Laws would be too complex for current A.I.---

However I don't see that they would never be able to be programmed into future A.I.

I'm sure in the 60s communicators were considered impossible. In the 70s "Pong" was state-of-the-art in video games.

There is no 'current' AI (well, there's the Spielberg movie, but that's probably not where we're going with this...).

The reason I say it's not possible is because an AI would have it's own consciousness and you can't give those instructions to a human. Even a being like Data wouldn't be able to process those as "laws" (perhaps mere "suggestions"). It's like giving us the Ten Commandments. "Thou shalt not kill" is great, but what if somebody declares war on you... do you let them come and trample your village or do you fight? An AI would face the same logical questions.

Part of the brilliance of Asimov's work is telling us you can't give a machine, sentient or not, these instructions.

 

[TheDoctor]

I would like to see them used in a better way tthat slapped into a badly written Will smith movie lol.

You've got some superfluity in that sentence there. :lol

 

[Wes R]

That's what happens when I'm half asleep posting things lol.