As artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-enabled robots increasingly integrate into daily life, their impact is transforming them from simple tools into potential partners and societal entities. With these advancements, significant ethical, privacy, safety, and regulatory concerns are emerging.
The release of The Cambridge Handbook of the Law, Policy, and Regulation for Human-Robot Interaction (published by Cambridge University Press in November 2024) addresses these evolving challenges. Available online since December 2024, the book offers an in-depth exploration of legal issues surrounding human-robot interaction and is the first of its kind to focus specifically on the regulatory and policy implications of this technology.
Edited by experts Woodrow Barfield, Yueh-Hsuan Weng, and Ugo Pagallo, the handbook combines insights from social sciences, computer science, and engineering to provide a comprehensive overview of AI and robot integration. Weng, an Associate Professor at Tohoku University and co-editor of the book, emphasizes the importance of humanities perspectives in AI development, arguing that technical systems must be designed with input from legal and cultural contexts to ensure they coexist harmoniously with humans.
The book is divided into four sections. The first addresses the core legal and ethical dilemmas of human-robot interaction, including trust, anthropomorphism, and the potential for robots to develop human-like emotions or intentions. The second section tackles the societal impacts of AI integration, raising questions about the legal personhood of AI entities and the implications of robots becoming part of everyday life.
The third section delves into the cultural and ethical challenges surrounding AI, such as aligning AI’s decision-making with human values—a process complicated by the diversity of cultural and regional contexts. The concluding section examines how existing legal frameworks in consumer law, criminal law, and constitutional law may need to evolve to accommodate intelligent systems.
The book is a collaborative effort, bringing together global authors and presenting case studies that offer a wide range of perspectives on the ethical dilemmas of interacting with robots. Weng highlights the “AI pacing problem,” referring to the challenge of keeping regulations in step with the rapid pace of AI development. While some countries are working on legislation for AI and robotics, there is still a need for solutions that balance enforceability with flexibility.
In his chapter, Weng advocates for global AI ethics standards led by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is currently leading a working group at IEEE to develop a modular database of AI-related ethical cases, which will help guide developers in aligning their projects with ethical guidelines across various regions.
This handbook is a timely and essential resource for understanding the complex interplay between technology, law, and ethics in the age of AI and robotics
