Social Robots May Gain Legal Rights, Says MIT Researcher

dcblogs writes "Social robots — machines with the ability to do grocery shopping, fix dinner and discuss the day's news — may gain limited rights, similar to those granted to pets. Kate Darling, a research specialist at the MIT Media Lab, looks at this broad issue in a recent paper, 'Extending Legal Rights to Social Robots.' 'The Kantian philosophical argument for preventing cruelty to animals is that our actions towards non-humans reflect our morality — if we treat animals in inhumane ways, we become inhumane persons. This logically extends to the treatment of robotic companions. Granting them protection may encourage us and our children to behave in a way that we generally regard as morally correct, or at least in a way that makes our cohabitation more agreeable or efficient.' If a company can make a robot that leaves the factory with rights, the marketing potential, as Darling notes, may be significant."

Comments

Do beef cows have rights?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because I'm pretty sure that'd be news to their tasty asses.

Robots are people, my friend.

[rollingcalf]

... says the Roboplican nominee.

Re:what if i wanna take it apart?

[swanzilla]

I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Anonymous Coward.