In 1942, Isaac Asimov introduced a visionary framework—the Three Laws of Robotics—that has influenced science fiction and real-world ethical debates surrounding artificial intelligence. Yet, more than 80 years later, these laws demand an urgent revisit and revamp to address a fundamentally transformed world in which humans coexist intimately with AI-(em)powered robots. Central to this revision is the need for a 4th foundational law rooted in hybrid intelligence—a blend of human natural intelligence and artificial intelligence—aimed explicitly at bringing out the best in and for people and planet.
Asimov’s original Three Laws were elegantly concise:
- A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
- A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
