Policies to deal with potential problems and to realise the promise

The chapter summarises the work on robots by looking at the policiesthat should be followed both to maximise the potential benefits of robot and also to minimise the potential harm they can do. Much of government policy is focused on the former and includes encouraging R&D and ensuring the labour force has the necessary skills both to produce and use robots. Regulation has a role to play in reassuring society that robots are safe. They also have a role to play in ensuring they are safe and hence in limiting the harm robots can do. Policies to limit the harm robots can do are much more diverse. They include redistributory policies to limit the adverse impact in inequality robots are likely to have. Other policies are largely regulatory, including ISO standards and the encouragement of research to anticipate problems. In order to implement such policies a single robot agency may be necessary. Having said that, it may not be possible to limit all the harm robots can do.