amazing we can build robots but
we cant feed the third world maybe the roborts
will find an answer, perhaps they will kill the third world
off and we can blame them ,

george taylor, hull uk, uk

Look... Japan is leading the world in the race for truly "domestic" robotics. Just browse back through the news from any source in the last calendar year and look at the contrast between Japan's robotics projects and the projects in other countries. Even the "private" robotics competitions in the U.S. are somehow funded by DARPA, Israel's best product thus far is a robot for war, MIT and Carnegie Mellon are more interested in insect like behavior, iRobot (who makes Roomba) has a division for war robots - even battle tested in Iraq (check their website), and hobby robotics in the U.S. is, by far, behind even r/c car hobbies. If Japan "owns" the industry and continues tp lead it, then they are wise to pre-empt human lawyers by putting their own rules in place. When the rest of us (U.S., U.K., Israel, Canada, etc) catch up with the Japanese vision, maybe we'll have reason to say something...

Matthew Hunt, Cumberland, MD, US

I, for one, welcome our new RobotoChan overlords!

Ron Baker, london , UK

Guo Lei, Guiyang, China; Are you serious!?!??!!!!! Boy I can't wait for them!!!!

Kevin Mack, Philadelphia, PA

Prediction:
In five to seven years the Japanese will produce extremely realistic sexual robots for anti-social Japanese males and unsatisfied housewives. The US will naturally ban them, Britain will give them suffrage and marriage rights, and mainland China will offer pirated versions made from inflammable or at least carcinogenic parts.

Guo Lei, Guiyang, China

My wife already owns a perfect Robot,that can take out the garbage,do the gardening,wash up, take her a cup of tea in bed, etc, Me!!!!!

Reg , Aylesbury, England

Notwithstanding that robots are mainly used as weapons (armed Predators and SWORDS) rather than butlers (C3PO), according to Kevin Warwick ("In the mind of the machine") Asimov's three laws of robotics are useless with neural networks.

Ronnie, Paris,

I thought the point of Asimov's "I Robot" (not to be confused with a movie of the same name which had almost nothing to do with the book) was to show that although the 3 laws seemed like a good idea, they were ultimately inadequate. The book itself is a series of short stories depicting cases where the 3 laws had unintended consequences.

Marty, Denton, TX

The story about Japans directing of Robotics is just another example of bureacrats running wild. Take a look at England, the bungling that led to 9/11, etc., etc. Our way of life, our civilization is in serious danger due to the explosion of the BUREACRAT Mindset. It is one of mankinds most evil traits. So what do we do? Make fun of it? No! Be aware of it and try to fight it.

Joe Clark, Mesa, AZ

I build robots in st louis and I tell you what, we are a long ways off of real sentient robots! Intelligence levels right now are lower than a cockroach, So the dangers are more geared toward occupational injury dangers, like working around a dumb humaniod that could potentially fall on a person or spill hot coffee on you. Its along way to the matrix but who knows a couple hundred years and we will need the Fresh Prince to save us!

ryan, St Louis,

um..., yeah. I -robot. As in, that book that Isaac Asimov wrote. As in, those are the 3 rules. Does anybody read books anymore?

Chronus Enoch, Madison, WI

Has no one watched a sci-fi movie involving self thinking robots in the last 20 years? It goes no where but bad. Granted they are only movies, however maybe we should consider the consequences. On a completely different note, it would great eliminate America's long standing need for cheap illegal labor.

Preston, BURBANK, CA

How long will it take for this new robotic legion to unionize.. and then block vote Democratic? Just wondering.

toby, pendelton,

Too many rules. Let's just build the things.

Andy, Malvern, PA, United States of America

The first that that needs to be done with truly advanced robots is to have them start building more robots of the same capability. That'll push the price down.

Biff Meister, Anderson, SC, USA

Now simplify the form for the Robot Laws Guide vs the 3 Issac Asimov Laws.
Must for later end users of Home droids.
Attach with Tech Manuak guide for robot model.
Thanks Japan.
Now apply automotive marketing tech to Robotics.

stephen russell, La Canada, CA USA

The industrialization of China and India will no doubt push the greenhouse effect beyond imaginable limits with catastrophic global impact on weather, marine life and coastal habitation - just to point out some of the more predictable, salient prospects for the 21st century. Robot ethics and safety guidelines will seem inconsequential in the coming bio debacle.

George Watson, Kennesaw, Georgia

It's too late. Most of current generation robots are designed for military use and specifically to kill human beings.

First order of business.

war.

bart, houston, US Texas

The author of this article is clearly shilling for Taiwanese, Singaporean and American business interests...

He calls the wisdom of the Japanese government "convoluted". He refers to the government itself as a "notoriously zealous bureaucracy". He even calls their draft set of rules a "rubric", implying that it's preachy and Ecclesiastical.

All this is designed to try and make us think that we DON'T need rules like this governing new technologies. Not just robotics, but also cognition technologies, genetic technologies, nanotech, and anything else in the pipeline that Wall Street and its greed driven syncophants want to foist on the public without proper safety, testing, or guidelines.

He wants to allow big business to use us as guinea pigs just like they did with Heroin (Bayer), Thalidomide (Gruenenthal), DDT (Geigy), Agent Orange (Monsanto), and Vioxx (Merck).

Screw that.

More power to the legislators who want to protect the people from greedy pigs. Make the barriers NOW!!!

hsing lee, vancouver, BC

This is the reason that robots will come to try to dominate mankind. Their internal logic will be short circuited by inane lawyerese, and they will in turn lash out at humankind, in a massive slaughter... and then log the events as "injuries". The "affordable" security measures will probably consist of a Windows-based firewall which will cause the robots to believe humanity are Trojan Viruses.

beverins, Brooklyn, USA

Well, Steve, that would be because "I, A Robot" was written by Isaac Asimov, as one of many novels and short stories he authored premised upon the development of advanced robots in future societies. As a lawyer, I find all of the bureaucratic verbosity ironic and funny. Japan should stick with Asimov's three laws and just deal with what the consequences to a manufacturer or owner should be if the laws are violated by their robots.

Jeffrey W. Griffith, Laguna Hills, CA

rules for robots are science fiction and the thoughs of writers and reporters, not engineers.

Robots are ALREADY armed with HELLFIRE missles for example!

Earl Lutz, melbourne, fl

In the Asimov rules, no amount of money is worth more than a human life.

In the Japaneese rules, If a robot is expensive enough, than it may not be worth putting at risk to save someone.

Nicholas, Eagle River, Ak

There's no doubt that one day robots will replace us all - except civil servants, of course.

ed in canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Someone made the comment "the situation will have gotten so dire, that there will be legions of south-east asians doing the same job as the machines, but at a lower price." while it may be possible for a human to work for less then the cost of a robot, you must also factor in how accurate a human is, how productive a human is, the work load, etc. cost to run a robot are...electricity, R&D, maintenance...and your practically garanteed quality.

If anything, robots will eventually kill off the unwealthy population because when there is no need for the unedjucated, there are no sources of income which leaves to poverity and starvation.

if anything, the introduction of robots will lead to a mass reduction in the world population. Granted, it will take hundreds of years, but it WILL happen.

also, wanted to comment on the fact that it seems the commity was trying to assign certain levels of risk to actions and inactions, think about if a robot had to choose between groups o people

Berthor, Illinois, USA

Its ok...Will Smith will keep us safe..

Adam, Cherryville,

That is because I-Robot is based on Isaac Asimov's books...
Good luck on the anatomically correct robots...although I wouldn't doubt someone will.

Kirtis, salt lake city, UT

I so can't wait for sex-bots. Can you imagine what that will do to the already-very-low reprod'n rate the Japanese already have? They'll be a really big hit everywhere for sure, esecially countries with lots of feminists in them. >)

Gaijin, Rochester, NY, US of A

If they sound like the three rules...its because they are... The film was based on the book written by Asimnov of the same name.

Hephzibah, UK,

I'm fairly certain the guy in the cube next to me is a robot. The Japanese should require that robots have to reveal themselves as such. Maybe they should have to have a light bulb on their head or a third eye or something. Also, they need to forget about building caretaker and security robots, and start working on super hot model robots. IMHO.

Scott Powell, San Francisco, CA, USA

It is going to be quite awhile before true AI that comprehends the laws will come into existence. Up until then, it will all depend upon simple programming.

We are making great technological strides, but it will most likely be years before we reach the level of robotic and AI technology that Asimov envisioned.

C. Loewen, Gettysburg, PA, USA

Chris from Osaka is wrong.

The exponential explosion in computer technology will result in impressive, cheap robots within the next decade. They will be far cheaper and much more trustworthy than any human ever could be. The elderly of all social classes in Japan will benefit from this.

Also, consider the various ways we will be able to improve, through robotics, our own physical functions. What if you could use a device which would allow you to hear better, to see further, or to communicate with objects around you, such as the door, your favorite chair, moving vehicles, etc.

Cheap human labor is history because it will soon be practically worthless. We should focus on education - people aren't widget factories.

Robert, Las Vegas,

".....The only people apt to have robots in Japan are the most wealthy......
In the meantime the population will have aged so much, and the situation will have gotten so dire, that there will be legions of south-east asians doing the same job as the machines, but at a lower price.This will be a nip in the bud for the development of robotics in Japan. "
REBUTTAL:
Not so: As with all new technology, the wealthy are the first to lay down the big bucks to be the first ones with the latest toys. This capitializes the industry further, leading to better and cheaper versions of the technology, and further innovations for the rest of us!
Those on the lower end will buy up the "pre-owned" items at fire sale rates, as the wealthy continue to buy up the newest and latest.
From cars to TVs and PCs, this is the evolution of consumer technology. we all benefit! (I can't wait until robots replace Illegal immigrant labor!)

eddie willers, Dublin , ca usa

Sounds a lot like the 3 rules in the movie I-Robot...........Hopefully future robots will be anatomically correct..........

Steve EB, New York, NY

Asimov's robots had a much higher order brain than what we actually have - the laws were not regulations but hard wired into the 'positronic' circuitry. I can't wait to see the civil service circus this creates.

Ric, Clanton,

Will the robots have lawyers so they can know what the rules are?

Michael, Fairmount, USA/IN

What if these robots are pleasuring you?

Mike Brotherton, Philadelphia, PA

I wonder what effect this will have on Medical robotics used in surgery. Interesting set of rules they've created.

Lance Newman, Santa Clara /, California / USA

Floor vacuuming and washing robots are already affordable. It's nothing to make a "pet" for pensioners. All those furreal friends cats need is to be able to walk, sit, and lie down--their programming is terrific. They're cheap, you don't have to feed them or clean up after them, nobody's allergic, and it would be dead easy to have it talk with the oldster, "learn" like a furby but do better at learning who the oldster's family is so it can ask about them and remember, take phone or email messages if the oldster is asleep--and read the email aloud later, know when to call a real human. Just like World of Warcraft, you could let a company rep. log on by remote and really talk to the oldster in the "cat's" voice. Try petting the current furreal cat--they're catlike enough to be very soothing, and the current edition is cheap. An upgrade would be very inexpensive to do. Everybody could afford one, or your government could give them away as a cheap health monitor.

Julie, Atlanta, GA, US

The new law invites loopholes.
I hope the Yakuza keeps these future bots who follow the newer in check with a sense of robotic honor.

Can anyone say, "Robotic Warfare?"

Inachu, Germantown, USA

My only question is, will androids dream of electric sheep?

Robbie, Tokyo, Japan

The only people apt to have robots in Japan are the most wealthy.
The maintenance and servicing of the machines will no doubt be handled by companies and not the individuals utilising them (as cars are now).
This will lead to more revenue for the government.
In the meantime the population will have aged so much, and the situation will have gotten so dire, that there will be legions of south-east asians doing the same job as the machines, but at a lower price.This will be a nip in the bud for the development of robotics in Japan.

Chris, Osaka, Japan

Ahh - leave it to bureaucrats to take the joy out of everything potentially fun. OK - so let me be a manufacturer of next generation robots. I build a robot that has the specific function of picking up things and breaking them. So I guess it would be against the law to have it iron my shirts instead?

Harry, Chatsworth, USA/CA

I can't wait until a robot is available to go to work instead of me! I'll collect the check, of course...

Marc Viens, Chugiak, Alaska

Asimov's robotic laws were updated a few years back to include a "law zero".

Law Zero: A robot may not injure humanity, or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.

Law One: A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless this would violate a higher order law.

Law Two: A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with a higher order law.

Law Three: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with a higher order law.
---------------
I am very impressed by Japan's foresightedness in realizing that robots will be of tremendous influence in the future.

Honda Corp. has long term goals of robots being able to beat a professional football (soccer) team within 50 years.

Meanwhile in the US, we just got a tax break for paying off the Spanish American War.

Terry, Hackettstown, NJ / USA

Ok, and when someone learns the code to the robots controls and changes it to allow the robot to kill/harm/whatever, then what?

Needle, Duluth, Ga

In the second asimov law, what happend if the orders given to robots are not from humans...

rui, Guimaraes,

I can think of about 100 more things Japan and the world should be worried about right now other than robots

Joshua, Trenton, Ohio, USA

I think Asimov says it better.

David W, Sydney,