Singer, Peter., and Agata Sagan. “Do Humanoid Robots Deserve Rights?.” The Japan Times. The Japan Times Ltd., 17 Dec. 2009. Web. 22 April 2010 <http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20091217a1.html>.
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Peter Singer is a professor of bioethics at Princeton University. Along with researcher, Agata Sagan he has written an article about the potential consequences of developing very complex social robots. In the article entitled, "Do Humanoid Robots Deserve to |Have Rights?", one of the consequences he mentions is that robots might take over the jobs of babysitters and other jobs that usually go to people with little education who need employment. He also voices concern about the possibility that as intelligent machines design ever more intelligent machines, the day may come when humans are no longer in control. The Association for Advancement of Artificial Intelligence has set up a panel to discuss that possibility. The most mind-boggling consequence that Singer describes is one that is being studied by cognitive scientist, Steve Torrence. Torrence points out that new technologies spread quickly and uncontrollably. What if robots become so complex that they are capable of having feelings? What if they are programmed not just with the capability to copy human behavior, but with the capability to produce consciousness? Would they then deserve rights?
The article by Peter Singer and Agata Sagan is relevant to the question about whether sociable robots should be used in therapy. It deals primarily, however, not with the impact that the relationship would have on the human patient , but with the potential impact that the relationship would have on the robot. As robotic technology advances, Singer's concern about the consciousness of robots could very likely become an issue. The difficulty would come in knowing what is mimicked behavior and what is actually conscious behavior. Singer's observation that it might become possible for robots to be programmed with the ability to produce consciousness, raises a controversial issue about the relationship between humans and robots.. Singer is concerned that, based on the way humans treat animals; humans might not treat the robots very humanely. If robots were being used to serve humans either in therapy or other capacities, it would be important to determine their level of consciousness and to consider what rights they should be afforded.
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