Machine Ethics and Robot Ethics

As artificial intelligence and robotics transform from science fiction concepts into everyday realities, this collection provides essential reading on the moral frameworks needed to guide their development. Wendell Wallach gathers leading thinkers to address the urgent ethical questions emerging from autonomous systems, from algorithmic bias in hiring software to life-and-death decisions by self-driving cars. The essays tackle the social, political, and legal ramifications of creating machines that can act independently, making this a crucial primer on the intersection of technology and morality. This is not speculative futurism but a grounded examination of the dilemmas we face right now.

What sets this volume apart is its direct engagement with the practical challenges of implementing machine morality, moving beyond theoretical debate to the gritty details of accountability and design. Readers interested in the philosophy of technology, computer science ethics, or public policy will find a rich, multidisciplinary resource that clarifies the stakes of building a world shared with intelligent machines. The book ultimately serves as a vital call to action, arguing that embedding ethical reasoning into our creations is the most pressing technological problem of our time.