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UK scientist: robots deserve rights

Posted December 20, 2006 5:34 PM

From SCI FI Tech:

Apparently Sir David King, the UK government's chief scientist, has been reading too much Philip K. Dick. He seems to think that within 50 years we'll need to give rights to robots, as they'll be sentient enough to need to follow laws and even pay taxes. Predicting that eventually robots will need to be given rights so they'll obey the law and pay their taxes, he seems to hold our robotic friends in pretty high regard.

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mongoose
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#1

Re: UK scientist: robots deserve rights

12/21/2006 9:24 AM

I, Robot starring Will Smith! The direction of this line of reasoning SCARE'S me. Humankind is about to become redundant. Yesterday's Scifi is today's reality. Where are the checks and balances? Now we are on this kind of line, what about cloning? Did Dolly have the same rights as her host? Now I'm rambling, Sorry!

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Anonymous Poster
#2
In reply to #1

Re: UK scientist: robots deserve rights

12/22/2006 12:29 AM

Of course Dolly has the same rights as her host. And I don't think the robots in I Robot had rights.
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chrisg288
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#3

Re: UK scientist: robots deserve rights

12/22/2006 9:48 AM

Easy question, once you determine absolutely what Life is, then you can determin whether robots will ever be eligible for the rights of the living. For now, though, maybe we could work on getting rights for the rest of the humans on the planet, who are living under the heel of dictators and warlords! (No need to fear robots, we have humans to fear!)

Chris
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gcferrell
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#4

Re: UK scientist: robots deserve rights

12/22/2006 10:06 AM

Writer should 1) Read Kurzweil. Short of an apocalyptic economic meltdown, human-level intelligence in robots is credible in much less than 50 years, and 2) cite his source. I see no quote or source from Sir David King. So I don't know what the gentleman really did say.
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Chris Leonard
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#5
In reply to #4

Re: UK scientist: robots deserve rights

12/22/2006 10:12 AM

Both good points!

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