New PATENT Issued for the Ethical AI

A recently issued U.S. patent concerning ethical artificial
intelligence titled: Inductive Inference Affective Language
Analyzer Simulating AI (patent # 6,587,846) introduces the newly
proposed concept of the Ten Ethical Laws of Robotics: a system
which radically expands upon previous ethical-robotic systems. As
implied in its title, this patent represents the first AI system
incorporating ethical/motivational terms: enabling a computer to
reason and speak in an ethical fashion, serving in roles
specifying sound human judgement. These Ten Ethical Laws directly
expand upon Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, an earlier
Science Fiction construct that aimed to rein in the potential
conduct of a futuristic AI robot as rules that prohibit harm to
come to humans. Indeed, Asimov's first two laws state that (1) a
robot must not harm a human (or through inaction allow a human to
come to harm), and (2) a robot must obey human orders (unless
they conflict with rule #1). Although this cursory system of
safeguards proves intriguing in a Sci-Fi sense, it nevertheless
remains simplistic in its dictates, leaving open the specific
details for implementing such a system. The newly patented Ten
Ethical Laws fortunately remedy such a shortcoming, representing
a general overview of the enduring conflict pitting virtue
against vice: the virtues of which are initially partially listed
below:

Glory/Prudence Honor/Justice
Providence/Faith Liberty/Hope
Grace/Beauty Free-will/Truth
Tranquility/Ecstasy Equality/Bliss

Dignity/Temperance Integrity/Fortitude
Civility/Charity Austerity/Decency
Magnanim./Goodness Equanimity/Wisdom
Love/Joy Peace/Harmony

The Ten Ethical Laws are written in a positive style of formal
mandate, focusing on the virtues to the necessary exclusion of
the corresponding vices. The purely virtuous mode (by definition)
is fully cognizant of the contrasting realm of the vices, without
necessarily responding in kind. Furthermore, the corresponding
hierarchy of the vices listed below contrasts point-for-point
with the respective virtuous mode (the overall patented system is
actually composed of 320 individual terms).

Infamy/Insurgency Dishonor/Vengeance
Prodigal/Betrayal Slavery/Despair
Wrath/Ugliness Tyranny/Hypocrisy
Anger/Abomination Prejudice/Perdition

Foolishness/Gluttony Caprice/Cowardice
Vulgarity/Avarice Cruelty/Antagonism
Oppression/Evil Persecution/Cunning
Hatred/Iniquity Belligerence/Turpitude

With such ethical safeguards firmly in place, the AI computer is
formally prohibited from expressing the corresponding vices,
allowing for a truly flawless simulation of virtue. Indeed, these
Ten Ethical Robotic Laws hold the potential for further
applications to a human sphere of influence, perhaps even someday
rivaling the closest competing system; namely, the Ten
Commandments. Although only a cursory outline of applications is
possible at this juncture, a more detailed treatment is posted
at: www.ethicalvalues.com - A direct USPTO link is also found
at -
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6587846

Replies:

Re:New PATENT Issued for the Ethical AI, by John, 11/28/03

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