Robot ethics
Before practically implementing ethics in robots, Prof. Winfield was already involved in robot ethics: reflecting on how to develop the field of robotics in such a way it is beneficial to society. When asked why we need robot ethics he said: “Robots are no different to any other technology in that they present ethical hazards. Some of the ethical hazards associated with robots are the same as the ethical hazards associated with any technology. For instance, the economic risks associated with new technologies. There is a risk, for instance, that robotics may end up, perhaps unintentionally, increasing the level of inequality and widening what is often called the digital divide. We are already seeing megacompanies buying up lots and lots of small robot companies and I think there is a danger of robot monopolies.”

“But there are some ethical risks that are new to robotics. There is for example the ethical risk of people becoming deceived by robots. Imagine a robot pet that behaves in a way that suggests the robot cares for you. In the extreme this could lead to the Tamagotchi effect: robots that care for you and you end up having to care for them. You can imagine an unscrupulous manufacturer effectively asking you to pay extra money otherwise your robot might 'die'. You and I would probably say 'Oh your kidding, I am not paying you extra money, it's a robot'. But unfortunately there are vulnerable people who might be taken in by that kind of scam. That's an ethical risk, associated with robots. Maybe a bigger risk for robots than washing machines or motor cars.”

“So yes, there need to be robot ethics because there are potential ethical risks, a whole range of them. From the personal risks – the risks to the user of the robot – all the way through to societal risks, economic risks and even wider environmental risks. A full treatment of robot ethics needs to cover that whole spectrum.”