I, Robot (1950)

Published in 1950 and set in the future, this book is a connected series of short stories that portray the history of robotics from around the 2000s to 2070s. In Asimov’s future world, robots have been designed with positronic brains, which are programmed to observe the “Three Laws of Robotics” (very simply stated – avoiding harm to humans, following orders, and avoiding harm to self). The framing device used to turn these short stories into a cohesive novel is an unnamed journalist who serves as narrator, interviewing Dr. Susan Calvin. The narrator plans to publish a feature story about Calvin upon her retirement.

It explores the interplay between humans and machines. The plot revolves around testing hypotheses related to the “three laws.” For example, would there ever be a situation where a robot could lie? In this vision of the future, robots become increasingly important to the running of the world in ways that will minimize harm to humans, which stands in sharp contrast to humankind’s history of warring against each other and causing great harm. I think this book does an excellent job of probing many ethical questions that arise regarding human-robot interactions.

I find it interesting that some culturally accepted norms of the time were outside of the potential for change, even for someone as forward-thinking as Asimov. The scenes are rampant with workplace smoking, large tomes of physical books, and paper/pencil calculations. On the other hand, in an era where there were few female scientists, Dr. Susan Calvin is an intellectually gifted strong woman, and for me, one of the highlights of the book.

There is a bit of repetition that speaks to these stories being written separately and then stitched together later, but overall, I found it a delightful anticipation of artificial intelligence and the related ethical issues. What is the proper relationship between human and machine? What a great question! I enjoyed it very much. ( )

Sequência de contos imensamente influente, unificada na figura da especialista em psicologia robótica Susan Calvin, contendo as famosas 3 leis da robóticas. Com seu estilo simples e direto, Asimov explora de modo didático, em 9 histórias, possíveis problemas envolvendo robôs e ao final, máquinas super inteligentes, envolvendo as leis. Quando algo dá errado, pensamos sobre, fazemos hipóteses e somos obrigados a intervir. E depois do problema solucionado, explicamos o ocorrido.

O problema aqui é que exceto o último, nenhum conto me cativou. Soaram como datados e de formulação rápida e portanto, de interesse mais histórico e canônico do que qualquer outro. A caracterização da reação dos personagens homens à Calvin, sempre de desconfiança, por ela ser mulher, tampouco ajuda.

O conto que me cativou e merece uma avaliação melhor - The Evitable Conflict (o conflito evitável), tem ideias instigantes. As máquinas são construídas construindo máquinas cada vez mais capacitadas intelectualmente que constróem máquinas cada vez mais capacitadas, até a 10 geração, quando seus cálculos e indicações se tornam imperscrutáveis aos humanos e o controle intelectual da produtividade lhes é delegado. ( )

This book feels disjointed rather than like a fluid storyline. It became more cohesive as it went on, but it overall felt like fragments hastily stuck together. Some characters were likeable, and I'd rather have gotten a whole book based on them than this collection of short stories. I think it might have been better if it had just been left as a collection, without trying to tie the stories all together, but just skipping from one story to the next.
Anyway, this is one you could skip in the Robot series, and just start with Caves of Steel. ( )

I love it when a "classic" lives up that designation.

This book follows the imaginary, future evolution of robots across time. Starting with simple, non-speaking domestic helpers all the way to sophisticated machines that run the world.

A series of short stories as remembered by robopsycologist Susan Calvin near the end of her life.

Originally published in 1950, I can see how so much later science fiction has been based on this and other Asimov books. ( )

Hilarious, thought-provoking, a little terrifying. Loved it. Makes you think about the way humans think by looking at how robots could think. ( )