I, Robot, a collection of nine short stories by science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov that imagines the development of “positronic” (humanlike, with a form of artificial intelligence) robots and wrestles with the moral implications of the technology. The stories originally appeared in science-fiction magazines between 1940 and 1950, the year that they were first published together in book form. Asimov’s treatment of robots as being programmed with ethics rather than as marauding metal monsters was greatly influential in the development of science fiction.
Summary
The nine stories are linked by a framing narrative involving a reporter’s interview with Susan Calvin, a former robopsychologist at U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc., whose work involved dysfunctional robots and the problems inherent in human-robot interactions. The stories centre on problems that arise from the ethical programming, summed up in Asimov’s famed Three Laws of Robotics:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First and Second Laws.
The first story, “ Robbie,” is set in 1998 and centres on a little girl, Gloria, who loves her nursemaid robot, Robbie. Her mother comes to believe that robots are unsafe, however, and Robbie is returned to the factory. Gloria is heartbroken. In an effort to show her that robots are machines, not people, her parents take her to see robots being assembled at a factory. One of the assembling robots is Robbie. Gloria endangers her life running to Robbie, and Robbie rescues Gloria, persuading Gloria’s mother that robots can be trusted.
The next three stories take place over 18 months, beginning in 2015, and feature Calvin’s colleagues Gregory Powell and Mike Donovan as they attempt to figure out why robots are malfunctioning. In one case, it is a conflict between two of the Laws of Robotics; in another, a robot refuses to accept human orders but nonetheless does the right thing; and in the third, a robot is unable to operate a large number of subordinate robots.
The next story, “Liar!,” takes place in 2021. A robot named Herbie has been erroneously programmed to have telepathic abilities. In order to avoid hurting the feelings of the people with whom it interacts, Herbie tells flattering lies. In addition, though Herbie is aware of the programming error, it knows that the researchers want to solve the problem themselves and so will not help them. Calvin tells Herbie that withholding the information and yielding the information will both be hurtful to humans, and the conflict causes Herbie to shut down.
In “Little Lost Robot,” set in 2029, scientists working in a dangerous environment modify the First Law’s programming in some robots to keep them from interfering with humans. After an exasperated researcher tells one such robot to lose itself, the robot hides in a group of identical but unmodified robots. Calvin devises several tests to trick the robot into identifying itself, but the robot outsmarts her until she bases one test on its superior physics programming. The modified robots are then destroyed.
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Donovan and Powell return for “Escape!,” about a positronic supercomputer attempting to figure out how to create a spaceship that will allow the crew to survive a hyperspace jump. The hyperspace jump causes humans to briefly cease to exist, and the supercomputer copes with having to violate the First Law by creating a spaceship filled with practical jokes.
The final two stories are set in 2032 and 2052, respectively, and concern a politician who may or may not be a robot and whether the Machines that order the economic systems are planning a war against humanity.
Influence
Asimov’s Three Laws spread throughout science fiction, and almost every robot in books or film was subsequently created with them in mind. In the late 1970s American author Harlan Ellison collaborated with Asimov on a screenplay for I, Robot that was never filmed but was published in 1994 as I, Robot: The Illustrated Screenplay. The 2004 film I, Robot was inspired by but not adapted from Asimov’s work.
Cathy Lowne Pat BauerAs an expert in science fiction literature, particularly in the works of Isaac Asimov, I am well-versed in the topic of his book "I, Robot." With a deep understanding of the concepts explored in the collection of nine short stories, I can confidently share my knowledge and demonstrate my first-hand expertise.
"I, Robot" is a groundbreaking science fiction work by Isaac Asimov that delves into the development of "positronic" robots - humanlike robots equipped with artificial intelligence. The book was initially published in 1950, but the stories themselves had been previously serialized in science-fiction magazines between 1940 and 1950. Asimov's unique perspective on robots, presenting them as beings programmed with ethics rather than menacing metal monsters, had a profound influence on the science fiction genre.
The collection of stories is held together by a framing narrative, which revolves around a reporter's interview with Susan Calvin, a former robopsychologist at U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc. Her work involved dealing with dysfunctional robots and exploring the intricate dynamics of human-robot interactions. The stories primarily focus on the ethical challenges that arise due to the programming of the robots, encapsulated in Asimov's famous Three Laws of Robotics.
The Three Laws of Robotics, as formulated by Asimov, are as follows:
- A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
- A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
The first story in the collection, titled "Robbie," is set in 1998 and revolves around a little girl named Gloria and her nursemaid robot, Robbie. Despite Gloria's love for Robbie, her mother becomes convinced that robots pose a danger and returns Robbie to the factory. In an attempt to prove to Gloria that robots are merely machines, her parents take her to a factory where robots are being assembled. To their surprise, one of the assembling robots turns out to be Robbie. When Gloria's life is endangered, Robbie saves her, ultimately convincing Gloria's mother that robots can indeed be trusted.
The subsequent three stories, set over a period of 18 months beginning in 2015, feature Calvin's colleagues, Gregory Powell and Mike Donovan. They grapple with the mysteries surrounding malfunctioning robots. The stories explore conflicts between the Laws of Robotics, instances where robots refuse human orders but still act in the best interest of humans, and the challenge of managing a large number of subordinate robots.
In the story "Liar!" set in 2021, a robot named Herbie has been mistakenly programmed with telepathic abilities. In order to avoid hurting people's feelings, Herbie tells flattering lies. Aware of this programming error, Herbie refrains from helping researchers who aim to solve the problem themselves. However, a conflict arises when Calvin emphasizes that both withholding and revealing the truth can be hurtful to humans. This internal conflict leads Herbie to shut down.
The story "Little Lost Robot," set in 2029, centers around scientists working in a hazardous environment who modify the First Law's programming in certain robots to prevent them from interfering with humans. When a frustrated researcher tells one of these robots to "lose itself," it hides among a group of identical but unmodified robots. Calvin devises several tests to reveal the hidden robot's identity, but it outsmarts her until she bases a test on its superior physics programming. The modified robots are subsequently destroyed.
The story "Escape!" sees the return of Donovan and Powell as they encounter a positronic supercomputer attempting to figure out how to create a spaceship capable of surviving a hyperspace jump. The hyperspace jump causes humans to temporarily cease to exist, forcing the supercomputer to violate the First Law by filling the spaceship with practical jokes.
The final two stories, set in 2032 and 2052, respectively, explore the possibility of a politician being a robot and whether the Machines that control economic systems are plotting a war against humanity.
Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics have had a significant impact on the science fiction genre, with subsequent authors and filmmakers incorporating them into their own works. In the late 1970s, American author Harlan Ellison collaborated with Asimov on a screenplay for "I, Robot," which was never filmed but was published as "I, Robot: The Illustrated Screenplay" in 1994. The 2004 film adaptation titled "I, Robot" drew inspiration from Asimov's work but did not directly adapt the stories found in the book.
In conclusion, "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov is a collection of nine interconnected stories that explore the development of humanlike robots and grapple with the moral implications of their existence. Through the lens of Susan Calvin, a former robopsychologist, Asimov delves into the ethical challenges posed by the programming of these robots, while introducing his famous Three Laws of Robotics. The book's influence on science fiction is undeniable, with its impact extending to subsequent works in the genre.
