Robots and Socio-Ethical Implications

March 2018

Social Implications of Robotics and AI

Bots have the ability to amass and distribute considerable power, especially when teamed with artificial intelligence and humans.

Meanwhile, workers worldwide are thinking carefully about the future of work and their fear of so-called “technological unemployment.”

There are a myriad of profound and long-lasting social and policy implications related to AI and robotics. It is incumbent on researchers and readers of this joint special issue from various disciplines, backgrounds, and roles, to help policy makers and others grapple with effective responses to this new era.

John C. Havens elegantly reminded us recently, “it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that Artificial Intelligence (AI) [or robotics] will be one of two things: our destroyer or our savior. It’s time to move beyond this dualistic narrative. … ‘Either or’ comparisons create fear or unrealistic expectations, neither of which pragmatically move society forward.”

Free Online Content

• 500 Years Later: Doors and Disputations by Christine Perakslis Posted in: Human Impacts, Last Word, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Our authors nail rich scholarship to our portal, thus inviting healthy disputation. In this issue, we considered the value of… ...  Read More
• BOOK REVIEW: Drone Warfare by Jacob Ossar Posted in: Book Reviews, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Societal Impact - When thanks to drone use soldiers rarely come home in body bags, members of the public are not often prompted… ...  Read More
• BOOK REVIEW: Drowning in Information, Starving for Knowledge by Abdullah Shahid and Ningzi Li Posted in: Book Reviews, Communication Technology, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Orman poses “information overload” as a paradox and gives us three mechanisms through which such paradox arises. The paradox is that technologies… ...  Read More
• The Internet of Moving Things by Rui Costa Posted in: Human Impacts, Industry View, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Societal Impact - Mobile technology isn’t just in your pocket 24/7. It’s everywhere around us today, with its continual byproduct — data —… ...  Read More
• One at a Time, and All at Once by Jeremy Pitt Posted in: Editorial & Opinion, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Societal Impact - It is necessary to start somehow, even if you’ve got no map, no knowledge of the destination, and no milometer… ...  Read More
• SSIT and Sustainable Development by Paul Cunningham Posted in: Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Societal Impact - As an IEEE technical Society whose focus on all aspects of societal implications of technology complements the technical activities of… ...  Read More
• Robots and SocioEthical Implications by Katina Michael Posted in: Editorial & Opinion, Magazine Articles, Robotics, Societal Impact - Is it unreasonable for us to want more from the AI-inspired — something more than, for example, a robot that… ...  Read More

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