On robots with reasoning capabilities and human-like appearance and behaviour: Implications for accident investigations

Salvini, Pericle; Pattinson, Jo-Ann; Kunze, Lars; Winfield, Alan; Jirotka, Marina

Abstract

AI-enhanced reasoning enables robots to create detailed accounts of their own situated behaviour as well as the behaviour of other people. This capability is currently employed by robot designers to achieve transparency, trust, and enhance robot social and communicative capabilities. Furthermore, robots may be designed to resemble humans both in their physical appearance and their behaviour. This approach is intended to facilitate more effective interactions with people. In this article we identify and examine some of the ethical, social and legal implications of these capabilities for the investigation of robot accidents. We consider two aspects in particular. The first of these is the role of robots as subjects in a testimony regarding an incident in which they are directly or indirectly involved. This can be described as a case of robots acting as witnesses. The second aspect is the role of robots as objects in a human testimony. This can be described as a case of robots being witnessed.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: Robophilosophy 2024
• Start Date: Aug 19, 2024
• End Date: Aug 23, 2024
• Acceptance Date: Oct 23, 2024
• Publication Date: Feb 4, 2025
• Deposit Date: Mar 21, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 25, 2025
• Journal: Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications
• Print ISSN: 0922-6389
• Publisher: IOS Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 397
• Pages: 253 -261
• Series Title: Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications
• Book Title: Social Robots with AI: Prospects, Risks, and Responsible Methods
• ISBN: 9781643685670
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/faia241511
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13760592