I, for one, welcome our new non-violent robot overlords

[George K]

Boston Dynamics pledges not to weaponize its robots

Several robotics companies, including Boston Dynamics, are pledging not to support the weaponization of their products and are calling for others in the industry to do the same, according to a letter shared first with Axios.

Why it matters: Robots, like drones before them, have a wide range of peaceful and even life-saving uses, but can be turned into war-fighting machines, too.

Details: The open letter highlights the erosion of consumer trust in robots as among the reasons not to allow them to be used as weapons.

"We believe that adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated, widely available to the public, and capable of navigating to previously inaccessible locations where people live and work, raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues," the companies said in the letter.
The companies pledged not to add weapons technology themselves or to support others doing so. And "when possible" they said they will review customers' plans in hopes of avoiding those who would turn the robots into weapons, in addition to exploring technical features that could prevent such use.
In addition to Boston Dynamics, five other firms signed on to the commitment: Agility Robotics, ANYbotics, Clearpath Robotics, Open Robotics and Unitree Robotics.
What they're saying: Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter said, in an e-mailed statement: "We are concerned about recent increases in makeshift efforts by individuals attempting to weaponize commercially available robots... For this technology to be broadly accepted throughout society, the public needs to know they can trust it. And that means we need policy that prohibits bad actors from misusing it."

[Jolly]

Resistance is futile.

[Klaus]

I know quite a few people who work on robots.

Problem is: Almost every progress for "non-violent" robots is also useful for weaponized robots.

[George K]

@Klaus said in I, for one, welcome our new non-violent robot overlords:

Almost every progress for "non-violent" robots is also useful for weaponized robots.

Right. And that's why the statement by Boston Dynamics is silly.

"We Our robots won't do anything bad, but...."

[Horace]

Similar to Google’s motto/pledge to “not be evil”. If Google’s precedent stands, we should anticipate that Boston Dynamics will produce robots that hate Republicans in mostly non-violent ways, as all non-evil things do.

[Copper]

Don't the robots always kill the humans?

[Ivorythumper]