Scientific Communication on Artificial Intelligence: The Question of the Social Status of the Biodroid

Abstract

Boidroids, androids mixing organic and synthetic components controlled by Artificial Intelligence, will likely spread soon in the daily life. They will interact with humans and will be thinking, behaving and feeling like humans. They will likely take on the appearance of humanoids in order to be better accepted in the civil society. Such artificial entities might be a source of comfort for humans by carrying out tasks that would improve the daily life for example; at the same time, they might be a source of concern by being the bearer of an intrinsic threat associated with an autonomy that humans might no longer control. Whether they are perceived positively or negatively, the question of their social status will soon have to be considered: The imminent nature of this consideration is illustrated by the android Sofia which was granted citizenship in 2017 by Saudi Arabia. Demonstrating the need to elaborate a legal and ethical frame to this perspective, the present article argues that scientific and non-scientific communities must seize the issue from now. The article also warns that, to date, the scientific communication on the topic (i.e. the written contributions of scientists) shows that the scientific communities as well as the civil society are far from being prepared to this eventuality. It concludes that the social status of entities such as biodroids must be analyzed and socialized before the civil society being confronted to the issue; this is to be done especially through scientific and non-scientific communications.