Bots and The Law Re: [aiethics] Re: ethics list

[Brenda R. Freedman]

"Robot Law" will most likely become a speciality at some point in the=20
future and it is inevitable it will be tested in some type of landmark =
case=20
and set some type of precedent. Setting precedent for either side of a=20
lawsuit could have the potential of lawsuits being filed. I worked in =
the=20
legal field in the United States where I reside (not as an attorney)=20
helping manage large complex litigation cases involving different areas =
of=20
the law and yes, as stated below, the media will "run" with a story that =

will attract attention.

What happens when a bot is online and enters into contracts with another =

bot?  We can all imagine a  future with bots making decisions on behalf =
of=20
a company searching for a particular product or service but does it =
leave=20
any room for negotiation with other parties to make the best deal, and =
how=20
will that affect a contract. Again, an interesting point to consider.

How much of the Internet will be governed by some type of Global Law in =
the=20
future. I was recently discussing this with a friend and they looked at =
me=20
as if I was taking a chapter from some Science Fiction book, but it =
isn't=20
science fiction at all. I do not think as botmasters  there should be =
any=20
concern of being "dragged into a lawsuit" today, and do not think people =

should panic, but it is an interesting area that many people involved in =

internet technology are watching. Those of us involved with the Alice=20
project have a unique opportunity to help educate and develop the many=20
advantages of using bots in a wide variety of applications.

Brenda






At 08:13 PM 8/2/01 -0400, you wrote:
>Well, I guess I've solved it.
>
>You're right Christian, the American court system is a little silly. =
However
>the basis for our system is one of nondiscrimination. All cases, no =
matter
>how stupid have the right to be heard and tried by a juror of one's =
peers.
>The reason that a global audience may think the system is more foolish =
then
>it is is because the Mcdonald's coffee type cases get a lot of =
attention.
>Our national press picks up on these types of cases because of the old
>adage, "Dogs bites man is common, man bites dog is news." The events of =
such
>cases are so far removed from the general day to dealings of our court
>system that they are deemed news worthy. From an outsider, or foreign
>perspective, I can easily see how hearing about law suits like the
>aforementioned could taint one's opinion. I for one know nothing about =
the
>German court system, but I'd be very interested in learning.
>
>__
>
>Technology, like what we're all trying to nurture systems like ALICE =
into,
>is going to be a hot bed of political and philosophical debate in the =
years
>to come. Mainly because this technology challenges the fundamentals of =
how
>human intellect is thought of. Will we surrender our humanity by =
creating
>entities in our own image? Questions like this scare people. As =
thinkers and
>scientists we have confidence in the longevity of humanity, we don't =
share
>the same fears as those who might not understand the nobility of our =
goals.
>That is why we must first and foremost educate. Only through a public
>awareness can we as vanguards of this technology defend ourselves and =
our
>ideas against exploitations like merritless law suits.
>
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