Editing Robot (section)

=== 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>