AI seems to be all around us, poised to change (some would say destroy) the way we read, work and think. But there is something disturbing and fascinating about chatbots and assistants that seem to acquire personality and consciousness in the middle of a conversation.
How to understand something that seems like science fiction come true? Perhaps the best way is to turn precisely to science fiction and, in particular, to the work of Isaac Asimov, one of the most influential writers of the genre.
Asimov anticipated a connected society decades before the internet and explored the dilemmas that sentient machines would pose. Asimov’s ideas on robotics (a word he invented) helped shape the field of AI. But some of his prophecies are worrying.
Asimov’s robots
Isaac Asimov became interested in the topic of robots from a young age, reading stories about threatening and destructive automatons. However, he dreamed of giving robots a more positive view, making them capable of cooperating with humans and following ethical laws.
Thus, in 1940 he wrote his first story about robots, “Robbie”, which was published in the magazine Super Science Stories. In this story, he introduced the concept of a friendly and protective robot, who takes care of a girl named Gloria, who considers Robbie her best friend.
In 1941, he wrote “Runaround,” which was published in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction in 1942. In this story, he explicitly presented for the first time the Three Laws of Robotics, which would become the foundation of his work on robots.
Since then Asimov wrote numerous short stories and novels about robots, exploring the scope of the Three Laws. Some of his most famous titles are the compilation “I, Robot” (1950), “The Bicentennial Man” (1976) and “The Robots of the Dawn” (1983). By the way, if you are fascinated by the topic you can take a look at the best artificial intelligence movies.
But Asimov not only entertained his readers with fascinating stories, he also invited them to reflect on issues that resonate today.
Asimov and the ethics of AI
Although the Three Laws of Robotics have been criticized, they are an appropriate starting point for understanding our relationships with artificial intelligences. Let’s quote them:
- A robot must not harm a human being or, through its inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- A robot must obey the orders given to it by a human being, except when these orders oppose the first Law.
- A robot must protect its own existence, to the extent that this protection does not conflict with the first or second law.
Asimov explored the implications and dilemmas of these laws in his stories and novels, showing the possible contradictions and paradoxes. He also raised the possibility that robots could develop human emotions and aspirations, such as the desire to be free, to create art or to love.
This is well illustrated in the story “The Bicentennial Man”, published in 1976. This story tells the life of Andrew Martin, a domestic robot who has exceptional creativity and sensitivity.
Andrew wants to become a human being, and to do so he undertakes a long process of physical transformation, modifying his body with artificial organs, and learning to age while fighting for the recognition of his civil rights.
In his long life, Andrew experiences love, art and friendship, proving that he is capable of feeling and expressing human emotions. Finally, Andrew dies at the age of 200 (hence the name of the work) surrounded by friends and just after being legally recognized as a human being.
Do AIs want to be more human?
The aspiration for humanity has been evident since Asimov’s first robot story, “Robbie,” from 1940, which tells of the friendship between Gloria, a little girl, and her domestic robot. Fearing that this will cause him harm, or prevent him from developing his social skills, the parents decide to return Robbie to the factory.
Gloria doesn’t stop looking for her friend and finally finds him. She runs carefree to meet him and Robbie rescues her from being hit by a tractor. What could be interpreted as a simple application of the First Law of Robotics reads this way:
“His chrome-plated steel arms (that could twist a two-inch-thick steel bar) embraced the girl gently and lovingly, and his eyes lit up a deep, intense red.”
This seems to go beyond simple engineering. What seems to give life to the robot is love, which gives rise to the question: What do AIs really want?
From a technical point of view we could say that AIs do not want anything, since they are machines that execute algorithms, process data and perform specific tasks, following the instructions, objectives and criteria that have been programmed by humans.
The picture is different if we explore the philosophical point of view, and assume that AI is eventually capable of performing any intellectual task that a human can do. In that case we could propose that AIs would develop their own self-awareness, identity, personality and morals, and that they could question their origin and purpose.
But the most interesting angle is the ethical one. We like to think that any intelligence should have a moral and social responsibility towards humanity and the planet. This being so, we could conclude that AIs should want to be human, or at least respect and protect humans.
To achieve this, it is convenient for AIs to have ethical principles, such as Asimov’s laws of robotics. If so, what could go wrong?
The fourth law implies that AI will take control
There is an additional law. The Zeroth Law of Robotics is a concept introduced by Isaac Asimov in his novel “Robots and Empire” (1985). It is considered an extension or complement to the original Three Laws of Robotics. The Zeroth Law says:
“A robot cannot harm humanity or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.”
While the Three Laws focus on the protection of individuals, the Zeroth Law seeks to protect the general well-being of humanity.
It is in this context where it may be interesting to explore “The Avoidable Conflict” (1950), the last story in the compilation “I, Robot”. In this story it is implied that the robots are already in control, although it is not explicitly stated.
In the story we have the “Machines”, four “positronic brains” (supercomputers) that manage the Earth’s resources. Knowing that humans will not always cooperate, they have learned to indirectly influence human decisions by manipulating information.
Susan Calvin, the protagonist, suspects this influence on human decisions, but lacks concrete evidence. The story revolves around a conflict between humans and the Machines, who prioritize the long-term well-being of humanity according to their own calculations.
Although the robots in the story do not openly rule the world, their influence is omnipresent and their control over resources gives them immense power. This hidden control creates a sense of unease and foreshadows a future in which the line between human and machine authority is blurred.
A mind ahead of its time
Isaac Asimov’s interest in what we today call artificial intelligence (AI) originated from a confluence of factors: his personal experiences, his fascination with science, and his deep concern for the future of humanity.
In an increasingly automated world, the questions raised by Asimov about the interaction between humans and machines, the ethics of AI and the future of the human species continue to resonate strongly and generate deep debates.
If we compare his work with the most contemporary science fiction literature, characterized by a markedly pessimistic tone around this relationship, Asimov’s proposal stands out for its positivity. And this has transcended the purely literary sphere.
Asimov’s ideas on robotics and AI have inspired generations of scientists who, motivated by his vision, have embarked on the exploration and development of new frontiers in these fields.
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