robots.net is posting a link to a BBC-article about a Korean group of experts (including futurists and a science fiction writer) devising a compilation of "ethical guidelines concerning the roles and functions of robots as robots are expected to develop strong intelligence in the near future" to be presented soon.
The experts are "dealing with social problems such as human abuse of robots, humans becoming addicted to "robot interaction", using robots illegally and even humans who want to marry their robots."
Steve concludes "Also, to put this story in perspective, keep in mind that Korea is actively installing border robots that are capably of killing humans autonomously, so maybe a few rules aren't a bad idea."
The BBC-article mentions that the "European Robotics Research Network is also drawing up a set of guidelines on the use of robots.", believing "that robotics will soon come under the same scrutiny as disciplines such as nuclear physics and Bioengineering.".
And quotes from their draft: "In the 21st Century humanity will coexist with the first alien intelligence we have ever come into contact with - robots.
It will be an event rich in ethical, social and economic problems."
Update: In my original post I had already begun a half-sentence of a commentary (which read something like "Anybody who thinks ... Asimov ... bla"), when I ran out of words and decided to let the above speak for itself -
but today SB found the right words, which I would like to share:
"HahahahahahaAaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaaahaha
hahhoohooWHOOPPHEEHEEEHEEHEEEHEEHEEHEEEHEEEHAAAAHHAAAA
AHAAAAHHAAAAAAAHHAAAAAAAAAHAHAAHAAAAHAAAHAAAHAAHA"
