LAWS OF ROBOTICS

LEARNING INTENTION: TO EXPLORE ASIMOV’S THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS

SUCCESS CRITERIA: - LIST THE THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS
- CONSIDER HOW THEY MAY GO WRONG
- RECOGNISE THEIR USE AND LIMITATIONS IN THE REAL WORLD
THE THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction,

allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings,
except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such
protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
ZENITH LAW

• A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity

to come to harm

• Why add this law?

HOMEWORK

• Read “Runaround” by Isaac Asimov

• This is the original story in which he stated the three laws.
IROBOT

• Loosely based on a book and story by Asimov

• Gives some insight into these laws.
Pick one alternative
order and write a short
scenario in your book
of what might happen
and why.

XKCD
https://xkcd.com/1613/
PROBLEMS

• https://
theconversation.com/after-75-years-isaac-asimovs-three-laws-of-robotics-nee
d-updating-74501
• How do you program it in?
• Would you always need ethical laws? When would you need them
DRIVERLESS CARS

• https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-ethical-dilemma-of-self-driving-cars-patrick-li
n#digdeeper