New laws of robotics to be explored at upcoming confab

SmartPlanet: New laws of robotics to be explored at upcoming confab

The pace of innovation in robotics in recent years has been stunning, with robots performing many tasks requiring some degree of human intelligence, from assembly to driving cars to flying aircraft. Robots are also interacting with humans on an increasingly sophisticated level.

In fact, the pace of robot innovation is far outpacing any legal and moral implications that may arise from machine interactions. …

… As we rely on robots for more and more of the tasks of business and society, there needs to be a legal framework to address the legal and moral questions that may come up. For example, if a robot injures somebody, or if a questionable or ethically challenged decision is left to a machine. It’s a wide open frontier, legally.

To start the process of building such a framework, the University of Miami School of Law announced it plans an inaugural conference on legal and policy issues relating to robotics. The event, dubbed seeks submissions for “We Robot” (a play on words on Asimov’s I, Robot), will be held in Coral Gables, Florida in April 2012. …

Okay, join me in the chorus, please:

"Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto, …"