In the 1932 movie classic, The Most Dangerous Game, a homicidal madman gets his thrills hunting human beings.
In a little science project underway at the University of Zurich, scientists–heh-heh–are trying to design robots “to hunt prey” ( https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/05/robots-hunt-prey/ ).
Oh, they assure us that this new technology will only be used for thoroughly benign and constructive purposes, while at the same time really souping up our knowledge of robotics. Do you believe that? I don’t.
Imagine a gaggle of super-rich Davos types getting together to see whose robot will be the first to pounce on a Climate Change denier.
What does that say about our times, that this is not at all difficult to imagine?
For the time being, let’s take a little peek back into the history of science fiction: Isaac Asimov’s “Three Laws of Robotics,” which for many years set the standard for robot stories.
One) A robot must not, through any action or inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
Two) A robot must obey any and all commands given to it by a human being, except where such commands would conflict with the First Law.
Three) A robot must do anything necessary for self-preservation, except where such action or inaction would conflict with either or both of the first two Laws.
I don’t think they’re gonna build those laws into the system–do you?