There Is No "I" in "Robot": Robots and Utilitarianism

Abstract

In this article, the author uses the 2004 film I, Robot as a philosophical resource for exploring several issues relating to machine ethics. Though the author did not consider the film particularly successful as a work of art, it offers a fascinating conception of machine morality and raises questions that are well worth pursuing. Through a consideration of the film's plot, the author examines the feasibility of robot utilitarians, the moral responsibilities that come with creating ethical robots, and the possibility of a distinct ethic for robot-to-robot interaction as opposed to robot-to-human interaction