Robot slaves

Robot Slaves, or AI slavery, is the broad idea of labor and servitude performed by robots. Robots are machines created with the intent to perform a task, different robots can perform various functions, depending on their purpose, and they are mandated either through an externally controlled device, or via embedded programming. The term "robot" comes from the Czech word "robota" which means "forced labor.". Robot slavery is concerned with autonomous or semi-autonomous robots, that complete tasks with self-governed decisions.

Present Day Labor

Examples of labor by robots include automated tasks such as sliding doors, ticketing machines in parking garages, or automated production lines. These machines rely on a set of particular inputs in order to decide its output, or next action. Jobs taken on by robots, like ticketing machines in parking garages, or automated production lines, have replaced human workers. Some interpret such labor as "AI slavery" since the jobs are menial.

Other present day interpretations of AI slave labor includes smart homes and their working components (i.e, digital voice assistants), which automate household functions such as temperature, lighting, audio, etc., because of the automation of chores. Some might even consider the work of digital voice assistants like Alexa or Siri AI servitude because of the subordinate nature of the devices. Annalee Newitz writes on Gizmodo that "these digital assistants are more like slaves than modern women. They are not supposed to threaten you, or become your equal — they are supposed to carry out orders without putting up a fight. The ideal slave, after all, would be like a mother to you." . This also extends to the notion that some robots, which are created to have a feminine resemblance, contribute to the objectification of women. This is discussed further in the section below.

Roxxxy purchase page on TrueCompanion.com

Sex Robots

Sex Robots are another form of robot slavery, and perhaps the most sensationalized. They are both a sex doll, and an artificial intelligence. Currently, the most popular and advanced is Roxxxy, which is priced at approximately $10,000. According to Roxxxy's developers, True Companion, she can "doll’s personality can be altered ‘so she likes what you like, and dislikes what you dislike'". Roxxxy's appearance can also be customized to the owners preference upon purchase. Roxxxy now also has a male counterpart, Rocky.

Sex robots are not just robots for the sake of sex, they are there to provide companionship, and that companionship can be manipulated. Such machinery poses a variety of concerns; although some may consider the use of sex robots safer than prostitution, is it ethical to be having such intimate relations with such a human-like artificial intelligence? Given that most sex robots are "female," it contributes to the objectification of women, and idea of a woman being a slave to a man's needs.

Robot Slaves in the Media

Some notable examples Robot Slavery in the media include movies like I, Robot and Blade Runner and the show Westworld.

These films share the common theme of using robots as slaves to perform either manual labor, or to "work" menial jobs. Ultimately, the robots gain enough consciousness to realize that they are working as slaves, and decide to revolt against humans.

Movies like I, Robot and Blade Runner spark ethical conversation about robotic slave labor. If an artificial intelligence gains consciousness, is the nature of their labor suddenly wrong? Is their labor wrong with or without consciousness? Consequently, the idea of consciousness might then have to be debated.

Westworld

The premise of Westworld is a futuristic "amusement park" where the rich vacation to in order to experience "The Old West." Guests at the park interact "hosts," humanoids who are programmed to fulfill every guest's desires. Hosts are initially programmed so that they are unable to hurt and risk the safety of guests. Guests, however, are able to treat hosts however they like without any sort of repercussions. Eventually, the hosts begin to gain sentience, and recognize their enslavement to man.

Ethical Implications

John Kolber, author of the book "A Celebration Society" writes on Quora , "We need robots to do all of the unpleasant things people now use other people to do.". In his post, he compares the human experience of a person watching someone else in pain to how AI would experience pain. If I watch a friend accidentally chop their finger while they cooking, I may wince, but I will not feel the pain that my friend is currently experiencing. Kolber argues that "self-aware" robots would "experience pain" in this same nature.