Editing Robot (section)

== Robots in society ==
[[File:TOPIO 3.jpg|thumb|[[TOPIO]], a [[humanoid robot]], played [[ping pong]] at Tokyo [[International Robot Exhibition]] (IREX) 2009.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-02/ping-pong-playing-terminator|title=A Ping-Pong-Playing Terminator|magazine=Popular Science|access-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329123836/http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-02/ping-pong-playing-terminator|archive-date=29 March 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Best robot 2009 |work=Neterion |publisher=Tech Magazine |url=https://neterion.com/blog/what-was-the-best-robot-from-the-international-robot-exhibition-2009/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227140415/https://neterion.com/blog/what-was-the-best-robot-from-the-international-robot-exhibition-2009/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=27 December 2022 }}</ref>]]

Roughly half of all the robots in the world are in Asia, 32% in Europe, and 16% in North America, 1% in [[Australasia]] and 1% in Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robots.com/blog.php?tag=48 |title=Robots Today and Tomorrow: IFR Presents the 2007 World Robotics Statistics Survey |website=RobotWorx |date=29 October 2007 |access-date=14 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205041924/http://www.robots.com/blog.php?tag=48 |archive-date=5 February 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 40% of all the robots in the world are in Japan,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUST32811820071202 |title=Japan's robots slug it out to be world champ |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=2 December 2007 |access-date=1 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213142513/http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUST32811820071202 |archive-date=13 December 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> making Japan the country with the highest number of robots.

=== Autonomy and ethical questions ===
{{Main|Roboethics|Ethics of artificial intelligence}}
[[File:Actroid-DER 01.jpg|thumb|An [[Android (robot)|android]], or robot designed to resemble a human, can appear comforting to some people and disturbing to others.<ref name="uncanny" />]]

As robots have become more advanced and sophisticated, experts and academics have increasingly explored the questions of what ethics might govern robots' behavior,<ref name="AAAI ethics">{{cite web |url=http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/AITopics/Ethics |title=AI Topics / Ethics |website=Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805002115/http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/AITopics/Ethics |archive-date=5 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Robots can be racist and sexist, new study warns |url=https://www.trtworld.com/life/robots-can-be-racist-and-sexist-new-study-warns-58218 |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=TRT World }}</ref> and whether robots might be able to claim any kind of social, cultural, ethical or legal rights.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/newstopics/ethics5.html |title=News Index by Topic - ETHICAL & SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS Archive |website=Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406094358/http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/newstopics/ethics5.html |archive-date=6 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> One scientific team has said that it was possible that a robot brain would exist by 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.familyhealthguide.co.uk/scientists-predict-artificial-brain-in-10-years.html |title=Scientists Predict Artificial Brain in 10 Years |first=Kristie |last=McNealy |date=29 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129103022/http://www.familyhealthguide.co.uk/scientists-predict-artificial-brain-in-10-years.html |archive-date=29 November 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Others predict robot intelligence breakthroughs by 2050.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fduW6KHhWtQC&q=robot |title=Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind |first=Hans |last=Moravec |year=1999 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-513630-2 |author-link=Hans Moravec |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205073358/https://books.google.com/books?id=fduW6KHhWtQC&dq=robot&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=SuquyjYb4n&sig=5S3L8pqiLqZ_yjJgh97tPE6F7gQ&hl=en&ei=R1-MSubxLs_dlAfJm_26CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6 |archive-date=5 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Recent advances have made robotic behavior more sophisticated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.koreaittimes.com/story/4668/robots-almost-conquering-walking-reading-dancing |title=Robots Almost Conquering Walking, Reading, Dancing |first=Matthew |last=Weigand |website=Korea IT times |date=17 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721092117/http://www.koreaittimes.com/story/4668/robots-almost-conquering-walking-reading-dancing |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The social impact of intelligent robots is subject of a 2010 documentary film called ''[[Plug & Pray]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.plugandpray-film.de/en/content.html |title=Plug & Pray |first=Jens |last=Schanze |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212040134/http://www.plugandpray-film.de/en/content.html |archive-date=12 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Vernor Vinge]] has suggested that a moment may come when computers and robots are smarter than humans. He calls this "[[technological singularity|the Singularity]]".<ref name="nytimes july09" /> He suggests that it may be somewhat or possibly very dangerous for humans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/vinge/misc/singularity.html |title=The Coming Technological Singularity: How to Survive in the Post-Human Era |first=Vernor |last=Vinge |author-link=Vernor Vinge |date=1993 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101133646/http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/vinge/misc/singularity.html |archive-date=1 January 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> This is discussed by a philosophy called [[Singularitarianism]].

In 2009, experts attended a conference hosted by the [[Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence]] (AAAI) to discuss whether computers and robots might be able to acquire any autonomy, and how much these abilities might pose a threat or hazard. They noted that some robots have acquired various forms of semi-autonomy, including being able to find power sources on their own and being able to independently choose targets to attack with weapons. They also noted that some computer viruses can evade elimination and have achieved "cockroach intelligence." They noted that self-awareness as depicted in science-fiction is probably unlikely, but that there were other potential hazards and pitfalls.<ref name="nytimes july09">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/science/26robot.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper |title=Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man |first=John |last=Markoff |author-link=John Markoff |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=26 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701084625/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/science/26robot.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper |archive-date=1 July 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Various media sources and scientific groups have noted separate trends in differing areas which might together result in greater robotic functionalities and autonomy, and which pose some inherent concerns.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2218834/ |title=Gaming the Robot Revolution: A military technology expert weighs in on Terminator: Salvation |first=P. W. |last=Singer |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=21 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127191004/http://www.slate.com/id/2218834/ |archive-date=27 January 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gyre.org/news/explore/robot-takeover |title=Robot takeover |website=gyre.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419163135/http://www.gyre.org/news/explore/robot-takeover |archive-date=19 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/tag/robotapocalypse |title=Robotapocalypse |website=[[Engadget]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504222624/https://www.engadget.com/tag/robotapocalypse/ |archive-date=4 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Military robots ===
Some experts and academics have questioned the use of robots for military combat, especially when such robots are given some degree of autonomous functions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8182003.stm |title=Call for debate on killer robots |first=Jason |last=Palmer |website=BBC News |date=3 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807005005/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8182003.stm |archive-date=7 August 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> There are also concerns about technology which might allow some armed robots to be controlled mainly by other robots.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/08/robot-three-way-portends-autonomous-future/ |title=Robot three-way portends autonomous future |first=David |last=Axe |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=13 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107102140/http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/08/robot-three-way-portends-autonomous-future/ |archive-date=7 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The US Navy has funded a report which indicates that, as [[military robots]] become more complex, there should be greater attention to implications of their ability to make autonomous decisions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytech.com/New%20Navyfunded%20Report%20Warns%20of%20War%20Robots%20Going%20Terminator/article14298.htm |title=New Navy-funded Report Warns of War Robots Going "Terminator" |first=Jason |last=Mick |website=[[DailyTech]] |date=17 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728101106/http://www.dailytech.com/New%20Navyfunded%20Report%20Warns%20of%20War%20Robots%20Going%20Terminator/article14298.htm |archive-date=28 July 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/navy-report-warns-of-robot-uprising-suggests-a-strong-moral-com/ |title=Navy report warns of robot uprising, suggests a strong moral compass |first=Joseph L. |last=Flatley |website=[[Engadget]] |date=18 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604145633/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/navy-report-warns-of-robot-uprising-suggests-a-strong-moral-com/ |archive-date=4 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> One researcher states that autonomous robots might be more humane, as they could make decisions more effectively. However, other experts question this.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Tech/2010/0217/New-role-for-robot-warriors |title=New role for robot warriors |first=Gregory M. |last=Lamb |newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date=17 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120946/http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Tech/2010/0217/New-role-for-robot-warriors |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

One robot in particular, the [[Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot|EATR]], has generated public concerns<ref name="FOX">{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/biomass-eating-military-robot-is-a-vegetarian-company-says|title=Biomass-Eating Military Robot Is a Vegetarian, Company Says|date=16 July 2009|publisher=Fox News|access-date=31 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803135855/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533382,00.html|archive-date=3 August 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> over its fuel source, as it can continually refuel itself using organic substances.<ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/07/company-denies-its-robots-feed-on-the-dead/|title=Danger Room What's Next in National Security Company Denies its Robots Feed on the Dead|last=Shachtman|first=Noah|date=17 July 2009|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|access-date=31 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729095144/http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/07/company-denies-its-robots-feed-on-the-dead|archive-date=29 July 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the engine for the EATR is designed to run on [[biomass]] and vegetation<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=RTI Inc. |date=16 July 2009 |url=http://www.robotictechnologyinc.com/images/upload/file/Cyclone%20Power%20Press%20Release%20EATR%20Rumors%20Final%2016%20July%2009.pdf |title=Cyclone Power Technologies Responds to Rumors about "Flesh Eating" Military Robot |pages=1–2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823133634/http://www.robotictechnologyinc.com/images/upload/file/Cyclone%20Power%20Press%20Release%20EATR%20Rumors%20Final%2016%20July%2009.pdf |archive-date=23 August 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> specifically selected by its sensors, which it can find on battlefields or other local environments, the project has stated that chicken fat can also be used.<ref name="bpopp22">{{cite web |publisher=RTI Inc. |date=6 April 2009 |url=https://robotictechnologyinc.com/images/upload/file/Presentation%20EATR%20Brief%20Overview%206%20April%2009.pdf |title=Brief Project Overview, EATR: Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot |page=22}}</ref><!--May need a link to show that the concern was that it might "eat" human flesh from dead soldiers-->

[[Manuel De Landa]] has noted that "smart missiles" and autonomous bombs equipped with artificial perception can be considered robots, as they make some of their decisions autonomously. He believes this represents an important and dangerous trend in which humans are handing over important decisions to machines.<ref>[[Manuel de Landa]], ''[[War in the Age of Intelligent Machines]]'', New York: Zone Books, 1991, 280 pages, Hardcover, {{ISBN|0-942299-76-0}}; Paperback, {{ISBN|0-942299-75-2}}.</ref>

=== Relationship to unemployment ===
{{Main|Technological unemployment}}
For centuries, people have predicted that machines would make [[Technological unemployment|workers obsolete and increase unemployment]], although the causes of unemployment are usually thought to be due to social policy.<ref>{{cite journal |first=E |last=McGaughey |title=Will Robots Automate Your Job Away? Full Employment, Basic Income, and Economic Democracy |orig-date=January 10, 2018 |date=2022 |url=https://osf.io/download/5da6fbaca7bc73000df40ef9/ |journal=[[Industrial Law Journal]] |volume=51 |issue=3 |ssrn=3119589 |doi=10.2139/ssrn.3119589}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/09/business/economy/a-future-without-jobs-two-views-of-the-changing-work-force.html|title=A Future Without Jobs? Two Views of the Changing Work Force|date=9 March 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|last1=Porter|first1=Eduardo|last2=Manjoo|first2=Farhad|access-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215151324/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/09/business/economy/a-future-without-jobs-two-views-of-the-changing-work-force.html|archive-date=15 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/07/world-without-work/395294/|title=A World Without Work|journal=The Atlantic|first=Derek|last=Thompson|date=July–August 2015|access-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227122425/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/07/world-without-work/395294/|archive-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

A recent example of human replacement involves Taiwanese technology company [[Foxconn]] who, in July 2011, announced a three-year plan to replace workers with more robots. At present the company uses ten thousand robots but will increase them to a million robots over a three-year period.<ref name=XINFoxcon>{{cite news|title=Foxconn to replace workers with 1 million robots in 3 years|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-07/30/c_131018764.htm|access-date=4 August 2011|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=30 July 2011|author=Yan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008201637/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-07/30/c_131018764.htm|archive-date=8 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Lawyers have speculated that an increased prevalence of robots in the workplace could lead to the need to improve redundancy laws.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://futureofworkhub.squarespace.com/allcontent/2014/11/20/judgment-day-employment-law-and-robots-in-the-workplace|title=Judgment day – employment law and robots in the workplace|work=futureofworkhub|date=20 November 2014 |access-date=7 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403233901/https://futureofworkhub.squarespace.com/allcontent/2014/11/20/judgment-day-employment-law-and-robots-in-the-workplace|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kevin J. Delaney said "Robots are taking human jobs. But Bill Gates believes that governments should tax companies' use of them, as a way to at least temporarily slow the spread of automation and to fund other types of employment."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Delaney|first1=Kevin|title=The robot that takes your job should pay taxes, says Bill Gates|url=https://qz.com/911968/bill-gates-the-robot-that-takes-your-job-should-pay-taxes/|website=Quartz|date=17 February 2017 |access-date=4 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305042737/https://qz.com/911968/bill-gates-the-robot-that-takes-your-job-should-pay-taxes/|archive-date=5 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[robot tax]] would also help pay a guaranteed living wage to the displaced workers.

The [[World Bank]]'s [[World Development Report]] 2019 puts forth evidence showing that while automation displaces workers, technological innovation creates more new industries and jobs on balance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2019|title=The Changing Nature of Work|access-date=8 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930193143/http://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2019|archive-date=30 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>