Robot!

January 14th, 2017| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

Robots may soon become “electronic persons”! Or so saith a European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs that has voted (17 votes to 2; with 2 abstentions) to approve a draft report that seeks to grant legal status to robots!

The most sophisticated autonomous robots could be established as having the status of electronic persons with specific rights and obligations, including that of making good any damage they may cause.”

It was Luxembourg MEP Mady Delvaux’s idea. Her report defines and regulates how robots will interact with humans seeing as how “humankind stands on the threshold of an era” that will have artificial intelligence “unleash a new industrial revolution.”

Based on the robot’s degree of autonomy, categories of robots will be assigned, with those with higher autonomy being held responsible for their actions. I wonder how they’ll make the robot pay. Put it in a robot prison? Cut off its power supply? But that would be too cruel!

And, Delvaux declared:

There will be a cooperation between robots and humans. I imagine that everyone can learn to work together with the robots. But a robot is not a human and will never be human. A robot can show empathy but it cannot feel empathy.”

She also proposes guidelines for robot designers that include this one:

Robots should not be made to look emotionally dependent. You must never think that a robot is a human, that he loves you or he is sad.”

That’s all well and good, but the other day a French woman, Lilly, revealed that she is in love with her robot, InMoovator.

It gets worse. She wants to marry “it.”

On her Twitter page—the good lady goes by the handle “Lilly InMoovator”—declared:

I’m a proud robosexual, we don’t hurt anybody, we are just happy.”

She’s just waiting for the day France will legalize human-robot unions.

Lilly’s been attracted to robots since her teenage years, disgusted as she is with physical contact with humans.

Robot expert—and author of Love and Sex with Robots: The Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships— David Levy asserted in a recent conference:

The first marriage will be before, not after 2050.”

What a world!

We are just happy.”

Sounds like Bobby McFerrin:

Don’t worry, be happy!”

Or Epicurus (341–270 BC):

Our highest good is pleasure!”

If it feels good, do it, they say.

But the Bible advises differently.

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 16:11

But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
Psalm 5:11

Only—only!—in the Lord is true happiness.

O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:8

And only in the Lord, is there is no want at all.

The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Psalm 34:10

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the one who trusts in You!
Psalm 84:11–12

Augustine (354–430 AD) was right:

Our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.”

How blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Psalm 144:15

Indeed!