Trading Freedom For Safety Rarely Works Well

By Gene Yarbrough One of my all-time favorite movies is the remake of I, Robot -- starring Will Smith and Sonny the robot. Will Smith's character, Detective Spooner, is investigating the alleged suicide of his good friend Dr. Lanning, but believes this is actually a homicide apparently perpetrated by a robot, in particular Sonny. In the movie, the psychology of robotics is presented and most notably the Three Laws of Robotics, created by Isaac Asimov, as a means of ensuring safety of the general public from robots. The Three Laws of Robotics are offered as defense, prima fascia, indicating that Sonny couldn't have murdered the good doctor. As the movie progresses, the actual perpetrator, 'V.I.K.I.' is revealed