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Record STMT-W1520B0Advisory

Speculating About Robot Moral Standing: On the Constitution of Social Robots as Objects of Governance

Position paper State lawGlobaladopted

This academic article explores the concept of robot standing as a useful speculative tool that can assist in the anticipatory governance of social robots. It argues that engaging with speculative concepts regarding the potential moral and legal status of artificial agents is an important part of the process of constituting social robots as objects of governance. Rather than dismissing such speculations as mere hubris, the paper contends that rigorous philosophical engagement with futuristic robot capabilities helps shape policy ideas and critical analysis.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

Frontiers Media SAAcademic · CH
Publisher
Legal forceAdvisory
Under whose authorityState law
Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

Researchers and academicsNational governmentRegulatorsInternational community

Researchers, ethicists, and policy-makers interested in the theoretical foundations of technology governance and robot ethics should read this to understand the value of speculative concepts.

Sectors
Research and science · robotics and artificial intelligence researchCross-sector

What the document contains

What's covered

The paper addresses the theoretical and practical role of speculative concepts, specifically robot standing, in the anticipatory governance of emerging social robotics. It examines how objects of governance are constituted through negotiations and explores how philosophical speculation can inform long-term policy and social analysis.

What's missing

The text does not provide specific legal regulations, technical engineering standards, or enforcement mechanisms for social robots.

Key takeaways
  • The concept of robot standing involves speculative thinking about the future moral and legal status of autonomous social robots.
  • Speculative concepts are instrumental in the process of constituting emerging technologies as objects of governance.
  • Engaging with speculative technology futures helps policy-makers and researchers anticipate societal impacts before widespread implementation occurs.
  • Philosophy of technology can contribute rigorous conceptual frameworks to policy discussions surrounding robotics and artificial intelligence.
  • Critiques of speculative ethics overlook the value of imaginative thinking in challenging existing social and legal ontologies.
Outline
· Introduction
· Speculative Elements in the Discussion on Robot Standing
· Robots as Objects of Future Governance
· Robot Standing and the Governance of Social Robots
· Conclusion
Issued2 December 2021
Length12,051 words · 12 pages
FormatNot recorded
Scopeglobal

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

2/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

Implicit in this understanding of such personhood is a notion of robot standing based on responsibility.

INTRODUCTION

screening score · 2026-10-23

Fairness

0/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

N/A

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Dignity

0/5

Respect for the inherent worth of persons

N/A

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Oversight

2/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

Autonomous, agentic action by a machine assumes a certain lack of control by humans

INTRODUCTION

screening score · 2026-10-23

Privacy

0/5

Protection of personal data and private life

N/A

screening score · 2026-10-23

Transparency

0/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

N/A

screening score · 2026-10-23

Enforcement

0/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

N/A

screening score · 2026-10-23

Impact Assessment

0/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

N/A

screening score · 2026-10-23

Topics

anticipatory_governance robot_standing robot_ethics speculative_concepts objects_of_governance