As robots and AI become more and more human-like, it begs the question, do robots deserve rights? Many argue that these “machines” aren’t deserving of rights, for they do not have consciousness. However, some neuroscientists believe that anything with advanced enough of a system could generate consciousness. So, if a robot were to have enough computing power to have a sense of consciousness, would it deserve rights?
Rights are a concept that is very human exclusive, they go hand in hand with human nature. The main reason for the creation of rights is that humans are capable feeling pain. So, to regulate humans from harming one another, rights are created. However robots and AI will never have “emotions” or feel “pain” unless programmed to do so, but what if they were, would they then qualify to have rights?
Robots and AI were created to do work for humans, and rights would undoubtedly make them less efficient, so would rights then be contradictory to their purpose for existing? Some think that because we created these robots, they have a duty to work for us, just as cattle bred by farmers, are to be killed for food. From an economic standpoint, there would be great potential in “enslaving” the machines we created. However, even if we created these machines, is it humane to do this to sentient beings? It may not be humane, but it is human. In all of human history, we have stripped sentient beings of rights for selfish purposes, be it other humans or animals.
Regardless of your opinion, it is clear that with the rate of technological advancements, this debate will become a reality in a foreseeable future.
K. (2017, February 23). Do Robots Deserve Rights? What if Machines Become Conscious? Retrieved June 11, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHyUYg8X31c
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