Do you get really scared watching videos of those scarily agile robot dogs?
Of course you do! In that case, you’ll be happy to know that the people who make them have promised that they will never let them hurt you.
What happened: Six companies, including the famous Boston Dynamics (BD), pledged not to weaponize or support the weaponization of their robots, and urged others to follow suit.
Why it matters: The robots are coming. In fact, many are already here. North American firms ordered 25% more workplace robots last quarter than the year before—a new record.
- Robots could bring us a lot of good, from taking on harmful or repetitive jobs (like our good pal Flippy) to making lives easier for those with disabilities.
- But they also present an increasing danger, be it from illegal modifications or fully autonomous weapons, which the UN tried (and failed) to ban last year.
What they’re saying: "We are concerned about recent increases in makeshift efforts by individuals attempting to weaponize commercially available robots,” BD CEO Robert Playter told Axios, “...we need a policy that prohibits bad actors from misusing [them]".
Yes, but: The promise is already facing scrutiny as BD has law enforcement and military deals (though they say these bots will only be used to help keep people out of harm’s way).
Bottom line: This pledge is a good industry-led effort, but more safeguards (and even new laws) need to be enacted to protect us in the face of these cold-blooded threats.