The First Law of Robotics is the primary directive in Isaac Asimov's fictional ethical system for artificial intelligence. It dictates that human safety supersedes all other robotic goals, including obedience and self-preservation. While originally a literary device, it serves as a philosophical baseline for engineers designing safety protocols and ethical frameworks for autonomous systems interacting with humans.
The safety scanner interlock acts as our practical version of the First Law of Robotics, cutting power the second a worker steps into the cell.
Do not mix it up with
- Three Laws of Robotics: The First Law is just the primary rule regarding human safety, while the Three Laws encompass the entire ethical framework.
Related terms
Second Law of Robotics
A science fiction concept stating that a robot must obey orders given by humans.
Third Law of Robotics
A conceptual rule stating that a robot must protect its own existence.
Three Laws of Robotics
A set of ethical directives devised by Isaac Asimov to govern autonomous machine behavior.