Scientists work on laws for robots to avoid possible war with artificial intelligence

May 31, 2006 | Source: Pravda

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is working on a new set of safety guidelines for next-generation robots — the first attempt at a formal version of the first of Asimov’s Laws of Robotics: “A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”

Japan’s ministry guidelines will require manufacturers to install a sufficient number of sensors to keep robots from running into people. Lighter or softer materials will be preferred, to further prevent injury.
Emergency shut-off buttons will also be required.

People in Japan are particularly concerned about this because of the accelerating efforts to create robots that will address the coming labor shortage in Japan’s elder care industry.

By the year 2020, Japan expects that about twenty-five percent of its population will be over sixty-five years of age.