Rules For Robots Get Closer

1.
extensive
a. a description of possible future events
2. a function b. having a large range
3. aspects c. particular parts of something
4. potential d. potential d. possible or likely
e. something that a machine does

5. risk
6. existence f. the possibility that something bad might happen
7. a scenario g. the state of being a living thing

MEPs vote on rules for robots
23 January 2017
1 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted in favour of a report that
proposes a complete set of rules as to how humans will interact with artificial
intelligence and robots in the future.
2 In the report, the author states that she believes the world is on the edge of a "new
industrial" robot revolution.
3 The report suggests granting legal status to robots as "electronic persons". They
would have specific rights and obligations, which would include making up for any
damage they may cause.
4 Designers would have to make robots with a kill switch in case they got out of
control, meaning that their functions could be shut down if necessary, the report
recommends.
5 At the same time, users should be able to use robots "without risk or fear of
physical or
psychological harm", the report says.
6 An employee of law firm Osborne Clarke, Lorna Brazell, was surprised by how
extensive the rules were, and questioned whether robots needed legal status.
7 "Blue whales and gorillas don't have personhood but I would suggest that they have
as many aspects of humanity as robots, so I don't see why we should jump into giving
robots this status."
8 The rules about robots will be for the makers, designers and users of the robots as they
can't be converted into machine code. Some of the rules for robot behaviour outlined in
the report state that a robot should not harm a human being, should obey orders it is
given, and protect its own existence as long as this does not conflict with any other rules.
9 Even with the new age of robots having the potential for endless prosperity, the report
states that with the threat of robots taking jobs from humans, member states should think
about introducing a basic income for their citizens.
10 The report also recognised the possibility that within a few decades, AI intellectual
capacity could surpass that of humans.
11 This scenario, if humans are not properly prepared for it, will "pose a challenge to
humanity's capacity to control its own creation and, consequently, perhaps also to its
capacity to be in charge of its own destiny and to ensure the survival of the species".
12 Relationships between humans and robots raise questions about privacy, human
dignity (particularly in the case of care robots) and the safety of humans if systems fail or
are hacked into.
13 Consequently, research into robotics should be done in the interests of the health and
happiness of humans. Designers might be required to register their robots, as well as
provide access to the source code to investigate accidents and damage caused by robots.
They may also need permission to build new robots from an ethical committee.
14 Producers or owners could be expected to take out insurance to cover any potential
damage.
15 A European agency would be set up for robotics and artificial intelligence that would
provide technical, ethical and regulatory advice.
16 The author of the report, Luxembourg MEP Mady Delvaux, asserted that robots
will never totally replace humans in the workplace, saying instead: "There will be a
cooperation between robots and humans. I imagine that everyone can learn to work
together with the robots."
17 "A robot is not a human and will never be human. A robot can show empathy but it
cannot feel empathy," she added.
Source: rt.com, BBC News, The Guardian

1. What does the author of the report believe we are on the edge of?
a. a dangerous era
b. a robot revolution
c. discovering how to make robots that can feel
2. What does the report suggest that all robots should have?
a. an ID tag b. an instruction manual c. a kill switch
3. What should countries of the European Union do if robots take people's jobs?
a. introduce a basic income
b. increase the minimum wage
c. create more jobs
4. According to the report, what might robot owners have to do?

a. pass a test about robot rules
b. pay tax on their robots
c. get insurance to cover any damage caused by their robots
5. What does the author of the report think will happen in the future?
a. robots will take most of the jobs from humans
b. humans will learn to work together with robots
c. robots will become vital to humans
1. Robots would have to compensate for any damage they cause. T
2. Animals should be given the same legal status as humans. F
3. A robot can protect itself only if it doesn't hurt a human. T
4. Robots will be able to understand the rules. F
5. Designers will not share code with the owners of their robots. F
6. Research into robots should be done for the well-being of humans. T

1. outline a. be better than
2. harm b. describe
3. pose c. give
4. surpass
d. hurt
5. ensure
e. make sure
6. grant
f. present
1. Please ___________
outline the details of the job. I want to understand exactly what I will be
doing.
pose
2. The next decade will ___________ a serious challenge for people designing robots.
surpass
3. I hope the hotel will ___________ my expectations. The price for the room was very
expensive.
grant
4. I don't think it's a good idea to ___________ legal status to robots. They are not human
beings.
5. If robots ___________
harm a human, their owners will be held responsible for their
behaviour.
ensure
6. It is important to ___________ that all safety procedures are followed correctly.
Jump into Empathy Income Regulatory Prosperity Capacity
1. ____________
Jump into suddenly decide to do something, often without
thinking carefully about it
Income
2. ____________ an amount of money given to everyone to live
on
Prosperity
3. ____________ being successful and having a lot of money
Capacity
4. ____________ ability to do something
5. ____________
Regulatory making official rules about what is acceptable
Empathy
6. ____________ the ability to understand someone else's
feelings
1. Do you think it is necessary to have rules for
robots? Why/why not?
2. Do you think that robots might take a lot of jobs in
the future? Why/why not?
3. Do you think that robots might start to behave
badly and become out of control? Why/why not?
4. Do you think there might be a time when robots
have the same rights as humans? Why/why not?

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1.

2. a function b. having a large range

3. aspects c. particular parts of something

4. potential d. potential d. possible or likely

e. something that a machine does

6. existence f. the possibility that something bad might happen

7. a scenario g. the state of being a living thing

Source: rt.com, BBC News, The Guardian

4. According to the report, what might robot owners have to do?

2. Animals should be given the same legal status as humans. F

3. A robot can protect itself only if it doesn't hurt a human. T

4. Robots will be able to understand the rules. F

6. Research into robots should be done for the well-being of humans. T

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