Robot Evolution: Ethical Concerns

Ágoston E. Eiben; Jacintha Ellers; Gerben Meynen; Sven Nyholm

doi:10.3389/frobt.2021.744590

Robot Evolution: Ethical Concerns

Ágoston E. Eiben^*, Jacintha Ellers, Gerben Meynen, Sven Nyholm

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Rapid developments in evolutionary computation, robotics, 3D-printing, and material science are enabling advanced systems of robots that can autonomously reproduce and evolve. The emerging technology of robot evolution challenges existing AI ethics because the inherent adaptivity, stochasticity, and complexity of evolutionary systems severely weaken human control and induce new types of hazards. In this paper we address the question how robot evolution can be responsibly controlled to avoid safety risks. We discuss risks related to robot multiplication, maladaptation, and domination and suggest solutions for meaningful human control. Such concerns may seem far-fetched now, however, we posit that awareness must be created before the technology becomes mature.

Original language	English
Article number	744590
Pages (from-to)	1-9
Number of pages	9
Journal	Frontiers in Robotics and AI
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2021.744590
Publication status	Published - 3 Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
SN’s work on this paper is part of the research program Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies, which is funded through the Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO grant number 024.004.031).

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2021 Eiben, Ellers, Meynen and Nyholm.

Funding

SN’s work on this paper is part of the research program Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies, which is funded through the Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO grant number 024.004.031).

Funders	Funder number
Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	024.004.031

Keywords

ethics
evolutionary design
evolutionary robotics
meaningful human control
morphological robot evolution
real-world robot evolution
responsibility gaps

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@article{b3385988297b4fb1992aa75b2d5056e4,

title = "Robot Evolution: Ethical Concerns",

abstract = "Rapid developments in evolutionary computation, robotics, 3D-printing, and material science are enabling advanced systems of robots that can autonomously reproduce and evolve. The emerging technology of robot evolution challenges existing AI ethics because the inherent adaptivity, stochasticity, and complexity of evolutionary systems severely weaken human control and induce new types of hazards. In this paper we address the question how robot evolution can be responsibly controlled to avoid safety risks. We discuss risks related to robot multiplication, maladaptation, and domination and suggest solutions for meaningful human control. Such concerns may seem far-fetched now, however, we posit that awareness must be created before the technology becomes mature.",

keywords = "ethics, evolutionary design, evolutionary robotics, meaningful human control, morphological robot evolution, real-world robot evolution, responsibility gaps",

author = "Eiben, {{\'A}goston E.} and Jacintha Ellers and Gerben Meynen and Sven Nyholm",

note = "Funding Information: SN{\textquoteright}s work on this paper is part of the research program Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies, which is funded through the Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO grant number 024.004.031). Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021 Eiben, Ellers, Meynen and Nyholm.",

year = "2021",

month = nov,

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doi = "10.3389/frobt.2021.744590",

language = "English",

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AU - Eiben, Ágoston E.

AU - Ellers, Jacintha

AU - Meynen, Gerben

AU - Nyholm, Sven

N1 - Funding Information: SN’s work on this paper is part of the research program Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies, which is funded through the Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO grant number 024.004.031). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Eiben, Ellers, Meynen and Nyholm.

PY - 2021/11/3

Y1 - 2021/11/3

N2 - Rapid developments in evolutionary computation, robotics, 3D-printing, and material science are enabling advanced systems of robots that can autonomously reproduce and evolve. The emerging technology of robot evolution challenges existing AI ethics because the inherent adaptivity, stochasticity, and complexity of evolutionary systems severely weaken human control and induce new types of hazards. In this paper we address the question how robot evolution can be responsibly controlled to avoid safety risks. We discuss risks related to robot multiplication, maladaptation, and domination and suggest solutions for meaningful human control. Such concerns may seem far-fetched now, however, we posit that awareness must be created before the technology becomes mature.

AB - Rapid developments in evolutionary computation, robotics, 3D-printing, and material science are enabling advanced systems of robots that can autonomously reproduce and evolve. The emerging technology of robot evolution challenges existing AI ethics because the inherent adaptivity, stochasticity, and complexity of evolutionary systems severely weaken human control and induce new types of hazards. In this paper we address the question how robot evolution can be responsibly controlled to avoid safety risks. We discuss risks related to robot multiplication, maladaptation, and domination and suggest solutions for meaningful human control. Such concerns may seem far-fetched now, however, we posit that awareness must be created before the technology becomes mature.

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KW - evolutionary robotics

KW - meaningful human control

KW - morphological robot evolution

KW - real-world robot evolution

KW - responsibility gaps

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Robot Evolution: Ethical Concerns

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