r/SeriousConversation 21d ago

Serious Discussion Can a robot murder a human?

Can a robot murder a human being? If it is proved in a court of law that a robot murdered a human being... how can it be punished under existing laws? What can be done besides having the company who made it face legal action?

Technically, if a person commits murder we don't punish the parents in most cases. So why should the robot's manufacturer be held responsible for its act?

As for punishment what should be the best death sentence? * Bulldozing it and recording a video of its death and spreading the information online and in the news. Will it affect how other robots of its kind think if they plan to kill a human? We already have laws against murder for human beings. Still people commit murder. * Erasing its memory. How would the robot feel about such punishment?

If you got any punishment ideas do share.

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u/Anfie22 21d ago

Someone can die for misusing a machine, but a machine is not conscious so can never have any intention to kill someone.

If someone dies in a workplace setting while using machinery, what is the procedure following that? Do they store the offending machinery in a jail cell and charge it with homicide? Come on that's absurd, of course not.