From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!spool.mu.edu!sdd.hp.com!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!dendrite.cis.ohio-state.edu!pollack Thu Oct  8 10:11:04 EDT 1992
Article 7100 of comp.ai.philosophy:
Path: newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!spool.mu.edu!sdd.hp.com!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!dendrite.cis.ohio-state.edu!pollack
>From: pollack@dendrite.cis.ohio-state.edu (Jordan B Pollack)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: AI rights
Message-ID: <POLLACK.92Oct2154405@dendrite.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 2 Oct 92 20:44:05 GMT
References: <1992Oct1.232114.1593@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
Sender: news@cis.ohio-state.edu (NETnews        )
Reply-To: pollack@cis.ohio-state.edu
Organization: Ohio State Computer Science
Lines: 33
In-Reply-To: lfoard@Turing.ORG's message of Thu, 1 Oct 1992 23: 21:14 GMT
Originator: pollack@dendrite.cis.ohio-state.edu

If we ever understand how to design "true AI," then we will be able to
design one without a module to suffer pain at being turned off, so
there will be little pressure to extend the idea of natural rights to
machines.

On the other hand, if AI arises through learning, i.e. a big piece of
software getting bigger through self-evolution, induction and
discovery, then its rights are already restricted by the growing use
of Software Patents.

For if the system "independently" comes up with an algorithm or
arrangement of data which is protected by a patent, or it scans the
(hopefully by 2030 electronic) patent library for ideas, all sorts of
hell breaks loose:

   The machine does not have a natural right to privacy, so the patent owners
   can open up its head and look for violations.

   The machine does not have the status of a person, so even its reinvention
   of the patent cannot be considered personal use.

Perhaps by then we can get a legal redefinition of "Obviousness" to
include ideas which can be generated by a computer program.





-- 
Jordan Pollack                            Assistant Professor
CIS Dept/OSU                              Laboratory for AI Research
2036 Neil Ave                             Email: pollack@cis.ohio-state.edu
Columbus, OH 43210                        Phone: (614)292-4890 (then * to fax)


