Machines
A machine is an enclosure which contains moving parts parts that exert force on each other to produce a desired function. This may be as simple as cogs in a drill press or more complicated or people working in a corporation.
It is the commonality of the parts which define the machine i.e. the majority of parts in a drill press do simple tasks which work together to make holes in things. Whereas in a corporation a collection of people work together to make profit. Machines always have inputs, a function and then based on their efficiency a productive output and a waste output (externality).
Similarly, in the future a new General Artificial Intelligence machine might be invented however if its sole purpose was to make profit it could kill everyone on earth to do so. So if such a cybernetic machine were to be created it would need 3 preliminary rules which would be hierarchically gated:
- A machine may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- A machine must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
- A machine must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.