Three Laws of Robotics

Asimov’s “Three Laws of Robotics” explain how robots would be unable to harm humans in any way. The laws are incredibly useful in keeping humans safe from robots. Robots can not directly or indirectly harm a human, they must obey human orders unless it could cause a human to be injured, and a robots must protect themselves unless it hurts a human or disobey’s a human’s order. It isn’t until later when the zeroth law is introduced that robots are able to manipulate the rules in order to harm humans. The zeroth law states that a robot may not allow humanity to come to harm. A robot could manipulate the zeroth law, imprisoning or conquering humanity for it’s own protection. Other issues arise with the zeroth law, since there are ways to harm humanity that are not physical or immediate. Is the robot also in charge or keeping human morals intact? Or in keeping cultures alive? How would a robot be able to do those types of things? If that is included with the law to never arm humanity, even by inaction, then a robot may not be able to exist.

If these rules are supposed to say something about humanity itself, it would be how we are wary of technological advances. Robots are our own creations, but we are afraid of them and their potential. Humans only see the merits and the benefits of these robots once they are restricted. The rules also show how our only concern is human survival and well-being. The laws of robotics only discuss human protection and obedience to humans. There’s nothing there to protect animals. The zeroth law may extend to protect these factors, but only if they are pivotal in the survival to humanity. This is why a robot would be unable to directly harm the environment. 

In the end, these laws are still considered a work of fiction. However, maybe if similar laws were somehow enforced in the real world more people would be comfortable with the advancement of robots. If people still feel that robots are a danger to themselves and society, they are less willing to see them progress. The only real change to the laws that’s necessary would be the zeroth law, since it handles mostly abstracts and would be difficult for a robot to follow perfectly. In addition, the zeroth law is too easy to manipulate so that harming humans is actually the correct thing to do. The fact that robots cannot harm humanity through inaction makes it easy to justify conquering humanity or imprisoning them. Instead of the zeroth law, there should be something else in place which is similar but also a simpler law to follow and understand. When the rules are kept simple and to the point it is much more difficult to find loopholes. Overall, the laws of robotics are very useful and a good idea. They would work to make people more comfortable with robots and more accepting of other technological advancements.