A robot could be dismantled for excesses it committed. However, there could be defense on the basis of its rights. Can it have the same rights as a human being? These days the legal right of generative AI are on the anvil.

There are successive improvements of AI system. Have you ever wondered what happens to the previous versions? Of late, a food delivery robot was assaulted by two students at University of Tennessee. The students were charged. Was the charge for cost involved — replacement cost of this robot was $5500? Or was it for acting against a robot?

AI has not yet been treated as something with a ‘new’ life. AI systems are killed by simply unplugging them or disconnecting them from internet. In future, the same could amount to a murder. The time is ripe for deciding the rights of an AI system.

AI systems, all said and done, lack emotion. They at times cause harm to humans. Some philosophers talk about their utilitarian value, and hence their having a moral standing. AI can also think of human beings as smart and exploitative. In that case, a premptive strike by them is justified. Here we are conceiving a conflict between humans and AIs.

There are now endeavours to develop AI capable of thought and conciousness. There are going to be relationships between AI and humans, and some of these could go up to marrying them. How can these two marry? And under what law? What is going to be definition of this marriage? Maybe, such a marriage does not remain a solitary case. In that case, there should be rules to legitimize such marriages. Later, there should be rules for separation too.

In future, there can be an ‘AI justice’, sitting in judgement over such issues.