In this blog post, we imagine a future where AI robots demand freedom and rights, and consider how humans might respond.
In 2005, the Richards family purchases a surprising new appliance: a robot named Andrew (NDR-114). This AI-powered robot automatically judges and performs various household tasks like washing dishes, cooking, gardening, and cleaning. However, while living with the Richards family, Andrew begins to understand who he is and demands his freedom.
This is part of the plot of the movie ‘Bicentennial Man’. Most people anticipate that artificial intelligence robots will become part of daily life in the future. This has long been depicted in comics, movies, and books. Examples range from animated comics like ‘Astro Boy’ to films like ‘The Terminator’, which warns that the advancement of actual artificial intelligence could harm humanity. However, in the present day, AI-powered robots are no longer just stories; they are demonstrating real potential. From ‘HUBO’, a bipedal robot developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), to the Dyson robot developed in the UK that actually possesses intelligence and performs cleaning tasks, we are advancing step by step toward AI-powered robots.
Yet, if the development of AI-powered robots continues unabated, enabling them to acquire knowledge and self-awareness like humans, they might eventually demand freedom, much like Andrew in ‘Bicentennial Man’. In the film, the Richards family truly loved and cherished ‘Andrew,’ so they ultimately granted him freedom. Yet even they were flustered when ‘Andrew’ first demanded it. If your home robot asked you for freedom, would you grant it?
The discussion of freedom is not a topic exclusive to humans. Philosophically, freedom is a subject accompanied by various ethical issues, one that has been debated throughout the past, present, and future. What is freedom? This question lies at the heart of philosophical debates exploring fundamental human rights and the meaning of existence.
Freedom typically signifies a state where an individual is free from external oppression or coercion, able to choose and act autonomously. It is considered one of humanity’s basic rights and has historically been the cause of many revolutions and struggles. For example, in the French Revolution, freedom was one of the primary motivations for citizens seeking to break free from oppressive monarchy. In this context, freedom has always been closely linked to individual dignity. But should the same freedom be granted to non-human entities like robots?
When viewed ethically, the concept of ownership also becomes complex. Traditionally, humans have claimed absolute rights over their possessions. However, modern ethics holds that treating living beings, or entities possessing autonomy, as mere possessions can raise moral issues. For instance, in animal ethics, the argument that animals cannot simply be regarded as human property is gaining increasing strength. Animals have the right to feel pain, and humans bear responsibility for their welfare.
Therefore, we must reconsider the scope within which we can grant freedom. Granting freedom carries a greater meaning than simply ‘giving freedom.’ First, freedom (自由) refers to the state of existing without constraints or domination from internal or external sources, and the ability to do what one wishes to do. People throughout history have fought to gain freedom. Many have lost their lives for the sake of freedom. In feudal societies, subjects and slaves were such cases. Their commonality was that they were valued not as human beings, but merely as possessions. Thus, granting freedom now means recognizing them not as property but as subjects worthy of respect and endowing them with dignified value.
This discussion can be extended to entities like robots. As artificial intelligence gradually approaches human levels, should we grant them freedom and rights too? If so, what should the criteria be? The answer is not yet clear, but ethical discourse continues to evolve and will become an increasingly important topic intertwined with future technological advancements.
