Kind makes you think twice about acquiring another 'dependant', (even if they could change diapers).
This has got to be a joke....right?
[FONT size=+1]LEAD STORY[/FONT]
[!--END_TITLE--][!--BEGIN_TEXT--]Eventually, robots will have to be given legal rights (and accept certain responsibilities) if advances in artificial intelligence (AI) continue to create sensitive quasi-organisms, according to a paper solicited for Sir David King, the UK's chief scientist. According to one AI researcher, "If (robots are) granted full rights, states will be obligated to provide full social benefits to them including income support, housing and possibly robo-healthcare to fix the machines over time." A December Financial Times report on the paper noted that robots might also have to pay taxes and be available for military service. (Some of the ideas in the paper track visions described years ago by writer Isaac Asimov.) [Financial Times, 12-19-06]