A conscious entity has the freedom to think, learn, communicate, own property and not be harmed or destroyed. A conscious entity has the right to do whatever doesn’t conflict with the first law. Sounds good, no? But please ponder this for a moment. If animals are conscious, then what are predators supposed to eat? Must all your friends become vegetarians? If some sophisticated future computer programs turn out to be conscious, should it be illegal to terminate them? If there are rules against terminating digital life forms, then need there also be restrictions on creating them to avoid a
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