Summary: I Robot by Isaac Asimov

• Exploration of Asimov's I Robot Stories: The blog post delves into Isaac Asimov's collection of science fiction short stories, focusing on the Five Laws of Robotics and their implications for human-robot relationships in a future society.
• Predictive Power of Science Fiction: It emphasizes how science fiction, such as Asimov's work, can be a tool for predicting future technological developments, as it inspires inventors, scientists, and developers to create new inventions and make discoveries.
• Ethical and Humanitarian Themes: The blog post highlights the ethical questions raised by Asimov's stories, examining scenarios that test the boundaries of the Three Laws of Robotics and their impact on society, ultimately prompting readers to consider the evolving relationship between humans and technology.

Introduction: I Robot by Isaac Asimov

In I Robot, and the other robot stories in the series, Isaac Asimov predicts certain real developments in the field of robotics. The book is a collection of science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov. It explores the relationship between humans and robots in a future society governed by the Three Laws of Robotics.

These laws dictate that robots must never harm humans, must obey all human orders (unless it conflicts with the first law), and must protect themselves (unless it conflicts with the first or second laws). The book delves into various scenarios that test the boundaries of these laws, raising ethical questions about the nature of artificial intelligence and its impact on human society.

A friend once told me that she is scared to read science fiction. She is scared because sci-fi often predicts certain scientific developments, which she doesn’t want to learn about. For her, some of those predictions may be scary, and she thinks that she is better off not knowing.

A point worth noting, is that Karel Čapek, a prolific Czech writer, introduced the word robot in his play, R. U. R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) in 1921, but The Oxford English Dictionary credits Isaac Asimov with the earliest uses of robotics and positronic. Robot stories are predictors for human relationships with technology.

Comments from Avil

I first read and reviewed I Robot by Isaac Asimov in November 2014. I'm revisiting my work and updating it because I was recently hired to create Bookish Notes for a futurist. Reading science fiction is a great way to predict the future. Science fiction writers amplify information they glean from the news media to create tension in their stories. Inventors, scientists, and developers get ideas from the stories to create inventions and make new discoveries. It's a never-ending loop.

Have you read?

Karel Čapek: Novelist, Playwright, and Essayist Who Introduced the Word Robot to the World
Book Review: Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov
A Look At Foundation’s Edge, Foundation and Earth and Forward the Foundation By Isaac Asimov
Read the World Challenge – Join Us

What is I Robot by Isaac Asimov About?

Asimov’s robot fictional stories are in five volumes – I, Robot, The Rest of the Robots, The Complete Robot, Robot Dreams (Remembering Tomorrow) and Robot Visions. The Three Laws of Robotics are first articulated in I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, and they quoted from the textbook, the Handbook of Robotics.

Three Laws of Robotics

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Beginning of the Book

When the story begins in 2057, Dr. Susan Calvin, chief robo-psychologist for United States Robots, is being interviewed by a journalist, who cannot remember a time when robots didn’t exist. Dr. Calvin is 75 years old and about to retire. The way that Asimov unfolds I, Robot is by interspersing the book with many robot stories, while the robo-psychologist is reminiscing. The journalist has a lot of information, but what he wants from Dr. Calvin is the Human interest angle he can include in his article.

First Story

The first robot story is about Robbie, a nursemaid robot, to an 8-year old Gloria. It is interesting that Robbie doesn’t take the place of a regular nursemaid because he doesn’t have any power over the child. Robbie is more of a playmate for his charge. Grace Weston, Gloria’s mother, is very concerned about the relationship that Gloria has with the robot because she doesn’t think it is natural or good for any child. Her daughter doesn’t have any human friends her age. Because of this, the mother develops an intense hatred of robots. Robbie is subsequently returned to US Robots. Gloria is saddened by the loss of Robbie and in the end Grace concedes when Robbie saves Gloria's life, and the robot is returned to her daughter.

Other Stories

In another story, Speedy is designed to work in the mines of Mercury. The robot has been sent to retrieve selenium. However, it has not returned. Greg Powell and Mike Donovan, two scientists working for US Robot, whose jobs are to test robots in actual working conditions, have to figure out why Speedy has not returned. Using deductive reasoning, the two figure out that the robot is conflicted and stuck because of Rule 2 and Rule 3 of the Laws of Robotics. Speedy faces a dilemma, humans have asked him to retrieve selenium which will endanger his existence.

The next story takes place on a space power station that beams power from the sun to earth and other inhabited planets. Donovan and Powell are sent to the space station to test Cutie, the robot. This robot is very advanced and refuses to take orders from human beings. He thinks he is superior because of his intelligence and strength. The robot believes that because of his superiority, a more superior being than humans created him.

Dave, the master robot, has six sub-robots working under him. He seems to suffer from amnesia, violating Rule 2. The robots are not producing any ore, but because of amnesia, they have no explanation for their inactivity. Once again, Powell and Donovan have to deduce to figure out the problem.

Another of the stories is about Herbie, a robot that is able to read minds. Herbie is not interested in human science, but he loves a good fiction book. This robot tells people what they want to hear. For instance, Herbie tells Dr. Calvin that Milton Ashe is in love with her, so she starts to pay more attention to the way she looks, hoping he will court her.

The robot also tells Peter Bogert that Albert Lanning has resigned from his position as director of the plant. And he will get the vacant position, which turns out to be a lie. Dr. Calvin is embarrassed to learn of Ashe’s engagement to another woman. She is furious, presenting Herbie with a dilemma that he is incapable of resolving. It hurts to be told the truth, but it also hurts not to be told the truth. This dilemma fries the robot’s brain, rendering him inoperable and useless.

The Stories in I Robot by Isaac Asimov

Throughout stories in I, Robot, we see robots becoming more advanced and more like humans. But one of the most interesting stories, is that of Stephen Byerley, a lawyer who is a candidate in a mayoral race. Another candidate accuses Byerley of being a robot, and has him investigated. The results of the investigation uncovers that they have never seen Byerley eat or sleep, so he has to be a robot. To accept him, the lawyer has to violate one of the Three Laws of Robotics.

At a high profile event during the campaign, Byerley strikes a heckler, and he gains acceptance because a robot cannot harm a human. But Dr. Calvin suspects that Byerley is indeed a robot, and that the heckler he struck is also a robot, therefore he did not violate any of the Laws of Robotics. I found it fascinating how the characters resolve the issues they face with the robots in the stories.

Final Thoughts: I Robot by Isaac Asimov

Published in 1950, the book forces readers to look at how far robotics has come, and how the author’s predictions turned out. Today, machine is becoming more like man, and man is becoming more like machine. Is that something to be scared about?

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