The Challenge Factory discussion

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
225 pgs

Kindle: $7.99
Hoopla: audiobook available with membership


Synopsis:
The 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 givein to 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.

With these three, simple directives, Isaac Asimov changed our perception of robots forever when he formulated the laws governing their behavior. In I, Robot, Asimov chronicles the development of the robot through a series of interlinked stories: from its primitive origins in the present to its ultimate perfection in the not-so-distant future--a future in which humanity itself may be rendered obsolete.

Here are stories of robots gone mad, of mind-read robots, and robots with a sense of humor. Of robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world--all told with the dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction that has become Asmiov's trademark.

Reading Schedule

Week 1: February 1-7 Pages 1-67 (Intro, Robbie, Runaround & Reason)
Week 2: February 8-14 Pages 68-111 (Catch That Rabbit & Liar)
Week 3: February 15-21 Pages 112-169 (Little Lost Robot & Escape!)
Week 4: February 22-28 Pages 170-223 (Evidence & The Evitable Conflict)

Weekly Questions

Week 1(view spoiler)[
1. What do you think about Mrs. Weston's reaction to Robbie?
2. In Reason, Cutie has taken over. We have tons of technology in our own world and robotics of all types have been invented. Do you think this could be a possible future? Could we actually invent a superior being?
(hide spoiler)]
Week 2(view spoiler)[
3. If you came across a robot that could read your mind and all your thoughts & secrets, would that bother you at all? Maybe creep you out a little?
(hide spoiler)]
Week 3(view spoiler)[
4. What would you do if you were in Powell & Donovan's place, stuck on a robot-controlled ship that you had no intention of taking a trip on? How would you feel?
(hide spoiler)]
Week 4(view spoiler)[
5. In this section, we had a robot who moved up the political ladder. Think about this in our current society. With the 3 Laws of Robotics in play, would you be ok with a robot infiltrating the political system in your country? Do you think it would make things better or worse?
6. Do you have any favorite robots from this book?
7. If you could own a robot programmed to do a specific job, what would it be? Would it be a nursemaid like Robbie, a chef, a maid, a chauffeur, or something else? (hide spoiler)]

If the book comes back to library in time I'll give it a try - even if it's one of my least favorite genres.

This is the Asimove Robot book I liked the least, so will pass, but I hope you all enjoy it better than I did :)!

Excited!

Placed a hold with the library, hopefully it become available in time to catch up! I love a good sci-fi read!

Super excited to start tomorrow!

I, um, finished already. Great book!

Week 1:
(view spoiler)[
1. What do you think about Mrs. Weston's reaction to Robbie?
I think Mrs. Weston was too caught in up in what others thought of Robbie and didn't notice the good that having Robbie did for her daughter. To Gracie, Robbie was family.

2. In Reason, Cutie has taken over. We have tons of technology in our own world and robotics of all types have been invented. Do you think this could be a possible future? Could we actually invent a superior being?
I'm sure there is a future close to this, but I think Cutie deciding who the Master was that he answered to might break the 3 Laws, specifically the Second, in some way. While I'm not sure we could invent a superior being, I do believe we could purpose-build AI for a particular skill without human failings such as indecision. We've been doing so for decades. (hide spoiler)]

Week 2:
(view spoiler)[3. If you came across a robot that could read your mind and all your thoughts & secrets, would that bother you at all? Maybe creep you out a little?
It absolutely would creep me out if a robot, or really anything, could read my mind. My thoughts are my own and it's scary in there. 😹 (hide spoiler)]

Week 3:
(view spoiler)[4. What would you do if you were in Powell & Donovan's place, stuck on a robot-controlled ship that you had no intention of taking a trip on? How would you feel?
The thought alone gives me anxiety. I'm a control freak and would be devastated that I was stuck. I would probably cross my fingers that there was a robot like Cutie or Dave that I could explain the situation to and point out the dangers that continuing on the journey would put me in, switching their priority to my rescue rather than their original orders. I would probably fail but worth a shot? (hide spoiler)]

Week 4:
(view spoiler)[5. In this section, we had a robot who moved up the political ladder. Think about this in our current society. With the 3 Laws of Robotics in play, would you be ok with a robot infiltrating the political system in your country? Do you think it would make things better or worse?
I think the Laws would make any robotic candidate end up like poor Speedy, stuck in a loop. There are no good choices that work for everyone (law 2) and those would likely conflict with the bot's biases (that it would get from its orders). I don't think it would make things worse, but nothing new would get done either.

6. Do you have any favorite robots from this book?
Speedy is my favorite by far. "Drunk" games with a quippy robot, minus the sun poisoning, is a definite yes, please.

7. If you could own a robot programmed to do a specific job, what would it be? Would it be a nursemaid like Robbie, a chef, a maid, a chauffeur, or something else?
If I could own a robot, I would definitely have a chef. I'm allergic to a lot and sometimes I just run out of ideas.
(hide spoiler)]

Week 1
1. What do you think about Mrs. Weston's reaction to Robbie?

I thought she was a control freak who was totally threatened by her daughter's love for Robbie. She needed to be more real and available to her daughter - then Robbie would have just been another toy for Gracie.

2. In Reason, Cutie has taken over. We have tons of technology in our own world and robotics of all types have been invented. Do you think this could be a possible future? Could we actually invent a superior being?

I don't think so. Humans are far from perfect. I just don't see them creating something that functions flawlessly without input from a sentient source. How can you create awareness?

I picked up my copy from library today and plan to start the book in a couple of days :-D

Week 2:
(view spoiler)[3. If you came across a robot that could read your mind and all your thoughts & secrets, would that bother you at all? Maybe creep you out a little?

No. It would creep me out a LOT!!! (hide spoiler)]

Week 3:
(view spoiler)[4. What would you do if you were in Powell & Donovan's place, stuck on a robot-controlled ship that you had no intention of taking a trip on? How would you feel?

Oh now, that would be extremely bad. I would be sick and probably have a nervous breakdown.
(hide spoiler)]

Week 4:
(view spoiler)[5. In this section, we had a robot who moved up the political ladder. Think about this in our current society. With the 3 Laws of Robotics in play, would you be ok with a robot infiltrating the political system in your country? Do you think it would make things better or worse?

That's hard to say. I am not confident that the 3 Laws of Robotics would necessarily meet every situation. Look at the U.S. Constitution - drafted before automatic weapons, electronic communications, Internet and so much more. It's an amazing document but leaves much unanswered for the modern age. So I think I have to say I would not favor robots entering politics.

6. Do you have any favorite robots from this book?

I liked Robbie the most.

7. If you could own a robot programmed to do a specific job, what would it be? Would it be a nursemaid like Robbie, a chef, a maid, a chauffeur, or something else?

Definitely a laundry robot, lol! I hate doing laundry. (hide spoiler)]

Sorry, I was going to reread with you, but I have too many challenges going on and no time to reread.

Have fun! I really liked the movie and I remember just liking the book.