Ethicist cites five considerations for a transforming society

said braka 11:34 PM
Up until now, technology has largely remained

dependent on action by a user, often in a particular setting. But in the age of co-robots, devices are breaking free of that model, interacting with people other than their users, and with other pieces of technology. They're also beginning to act in ways beyond what their users—or even their programmers—have determined. That creates the possibility of more adaptable and useful robots, but also raises new questions.
"Co-robots are robots that interact with humans in more complex, social ways," said Patrick Lin, an associate professor of philosophy and the director of the Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. "They can work and move alongside us, not just on highways but in our neighborhoods and homes. As robots go out into the world, the moral and ethical challenges change."
As robots become increasingly integrated into daily life and give people abilities that would have been considered "superpowers" not long ago, researcher Lin says now is the time for scientists, policymakers, industry representatives, and the public to start thinking through the ethical dilemmas they raise. Lin and his group are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of the National Robotics Initiative.
"Once drones, cars, and other co-robots are living among us, these technological superpowers will challenge our basic values, such as privacy, due process, liberty and more."
The role of an ethics researcher, Lin said, is not necessarily to answer all these questions, but to help society prepare for what's next.


Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2016-07-ethicist-cites-considerations-society.html#jCp