The promise of a future governed by artificial intelligence has ceased to be science fiction and has become a reality that shapes our lives.
In this scenario, Frank Pasquale issues a crucial warning in his book “The New Laws of Robotics”: machines no longer only perform mechanical tasks, but also influence decisions that affect health, work and social justice.
From Asimov’s laws to the new era of AI
By: Isaac Asimov, in his iconic stories about robots, established three fundamental laws that governed the interaction between humans and robots: protect the human being, obey orders and preserve the existence of the robot itself without violating the first two. Although these laws served as a frame of reference for reflecting on the role of machines in human life, they were conceived at a time when technology did not have the capacity or interference that it has today.
Pasquale, aware of the transformations that AI and robotics have generated in recent decades, argues that those rules are no longer enough. Their analysis suggests that technological advances are redefining the relationship between humans and machines in critical fields such as medicine, education, economics and, above all, ethics. The simple physical protection dictated by Asimov’s laws is now insufficient ground. What is at stake is more complex: power, privacy, equity and the social fabric itself.
For the author, automation has reached a critical point where human intervention is indispensable not only in the design of technology, but also in the way we decide to implement it in society. His proposal for four new laws is intended to be a framework of protection not only physical, but also economic, political and ethical.
A proposal to protect human well-being
In his review, Pasquale starts from a fundamental concern: the indiscriminate replacement of humans by robots in essential jobs. Professions that involve care, such as medicine or teaching, should not be replaced by the cold efficiency of a machine. The first of the new laws stipulates that robots should not replace humans in these critical areas. The author warns that, when empathy and human contact are eliminated, the bond that sustains these professions is weakened: care and interaction.
The next step in their analysis brings us to employment. Here, Pasquale faces one of the most heated debates of the technological age: automation and unemployment. While many corporations promote AI as a tool for progress, Pasquale warns of the devastating effects it can have on the workforce. His second law is clear: robots and AI should complement humans, not replace them. In this sense, he proposes a collaboration in which technology is used to expand human capabilities and open up new job opportunities, instead of destroying jobs without offering alternatives.
But for this complementarity to be effective, Pasquale introduces a third law that focuses on transparency. Currently, many artificial intelligence systems work like black boxes: they make decisions, but they do not allow us to understand them. This opacity is not only worrying in terms of justice, but also raises important ethical dilemmas. The author argues that any robotic system must be understandable and audited, to prevent decisions, from medical diagnosis to credit evaluation, from being unfair or biased without anyone being able to explain them.
Concentration of power and technological inequality
A crucial aspect that Pasquale addresses in his work is the concentration of power. Automation, he argues, is not only transforming the labor market, but is also concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few tech corporations. The fourth law of his proposal warns of this danger: robots must not contribute to aggravating the concentration of economic or political power.
Here Pasquale touches on a critical point in the current debate about AI and technology: the dominance of giants such as Google, Amazon and Facebook, which control much of the innovations and technological infrastructure. This concentration not only limits competition, but also reinforces social and economic inequalities. As these companies expand their influence, the risk that they will use automation to increase their power is evident, leading to a vicious cycle of inequality.
This “algorithmic colonization,” as the author calls it, affects fundamental areas of everyday life, from privacy to personal autonomy. Pasquale criticizes how, in the name of efficiency, algorithms have penetrated our lives in invisible ways, from surveillance systems to algorithms that determine our job or financial opportunities.
Real examples of algorithmic colonization
The risks Pasquale points out are not mere futuristic speculations, but realities that already affect millions of people around the world. In the health sector, for example, AI systems such as those used to diagnose diseases have been shown to have significant biases. A study by researchers at Stanford University found that some medical diagnostic algorithms were racially biased, disproportionately affecting minorities. These systems, trained on historical data, perpetuate inequalities in access to health, rather than correct them.
In the workplace, the use of algorithms to evaluate employees is already altering the way people are hired and fired. Companies like Amazon have implemented automated tracking systems to evaluate the performance of their workers, which has led to automatic layoffs without human intervention. These examples highlight the need for regulation, as automation without human oversight is leading to unfair decisions and preventing those affected from questioning or appealing those decisions.
Finally, algorithmic surveillance in cities is another example of how AI can invade privacy. In China, the use of cameras with facial recognition and social scoring systems is redefining the concept of privacy and state control. In the West, albeit on a smaller scale, automated surveillance systems are also gaining traction, raising concerns about individual liberty and civil rights.
A vision shared by other authors
Frank Pasquale’s analysis of the regulation of artificial intelligence and robotics resonates with the concerns expressed by other authors who have also explored the ethical and social dilemmas arising from automation.
For example, Shoshana Zuboff, in her influential work “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism,” warns about how large tech corporations use AI to extract data from users, which is then transformed into behavioral predictions that feed their business models.
Zuboff agrees with Pasquale that this concentration of power in the hands of a few companies not only undermines people’s privacy, but also reinforces unequal power structures that are difficult to reverse.
Like Pasquale, Zuboff argues that transparency and regulation are essential to prevent technology from being exploited to the detriment of collective well-being.
On the other hand, researcher and theorist Nick Bostrom, in his book “Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies”, addresses the existential risks posed by the uncontrolled advance of artificial intelligence.
While Bostrom focuses on the dangers of superintelligent AI that could surpass human capabilities, he shares with Pasquale the concern that a lack of effective regulations could lead to catastrophic outcomes. Bostrom argues that AI should be designed and monitored with strict ethical controls, which aligns with Pasquale’s insistence that decisions from automated systems should be transparent and auditable.
Finally, Cathy O’Neil, in “Weapons of Math Destruction”, offers a forceful critique of how algorithms, when not regulated or understood, can perpetuate social injustices and increase inequalities. Like Pasquale, O’Neil points out that these systems, used in sectors such as education, employment and credit, are often opaque black boxes that harm the most vulnerable communities. Both visions agree on the urgent need to establish legal frameworks that protect citizens and ensure that technology is used fairly and equitably.
In conclusion, Frank Pasquale’s “The New Laws of Robotics” offers us a critical framework for understanding and regulating the interaction between humans and machines in the age of artificial intelligence. Their proposals, which go beyond simple physical protection, seek to ensure that technology is a tool for progress and equity, not for the concentration of power or inequality. In this sense, Pasquale invites us to reflect on the kind of future we want to build.
