The Nationality of Autonomous Robots
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59759/law.v5i2.1859Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence; Autonomous Robots; Nationality; Legal Personality; Legal Status of Robots; International LawAbstract
The world in the recent years has witnessed rapid and unprecedented developments in the field of technology and artificial intelligence making this field one of the most important corner of the forth industrial revolution. AI is not merely used on tools to execute technical tasks only, it as well has become an important part of our daily lives as it is able to conduct a number of tasks which require a great deal of intelligence and making self-decisions. These advancements have raised complex legal questions regarding the appropriate legal status of autonomous robots, which encouraged many countries to think about a new legal framework going in line with such advancements.
One of the most controversial issues in this context is the possibility of granting nationality to intelligent robots, especially after the international debate sparked by the granting of Saudi nationality to the humanoid robot Sophia in 2017. It triggered debates among legalists and sociologists about the nationality as a legal right, and whether this right can be expanded to include industrial entities. Can robots be considered "persons" within the legal system? If so, what rights and duties can be granted to them? And how might this affect traditional legal systems that regulate relations between natural and legal persons?
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References
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