Reviews

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Only show reviews with written explanations

ivyinthepages's review against another edition

3.0

Rating: 3.18 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 2.75/5
-Cover: 1/5
-Story: 2.5/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Classic, Fantasy, Scifi
-Classic: 5/5
-Fantasy: 1/5
-Scifi: 5/5
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Maybe? If you like robots, sure.

Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved

I got to around 50% into the book and just couldn't take it anymore. I liked the movie but, shocker, nothing like the book. It wasn't bad presay but it was a drag for me.

nietlauramaarmaura's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I was so surprised by this book. Tbh I did not know who Isaac Asimov was, until my brother pointed out to be that he is actually very famous in the AI-circles. AI is really not my cup of tea, but since I did not really have anything else laying around I decided to give it a try. It completely changed my views on AI. I had never thought about all the ethical dilemmas that we will have to face once we'll get to this point. And Im glad Asimov already has some answers for us.
I did hate the last chapter though. It was so boring and underwhelming after 8 great chapters.

manolitagafotas's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

sidharthvardhan's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

"If one and a half chickens lay one and a half eggs in one and a half days, how many eggs will nine chickens lays in nine days?"

This is incredible, the best of all science fiction I have read yet. As Fredrick Pohl put it:

“A good science fiction story should be able to predict not the automobile but the traffic jam.”

Asimov not only does that - and he goes one step further, he proposes a solution for the metaphorical traffic jam - in this case, ethical issues related to AI, in form of his popular 'three laws of robotics' :
1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2) A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The laws, as you can see, have nothing to do with the mechanics but rather their psychology - robo-psychology. They are an unalterable set of priories that a robot (or a machine in general) must follow while making a moral choice, and thus not letting them cause any harm to humanity (remember HAL 9000!).

As Calvin explained, it is basis of many human ethical codes:

"Robots are essentially decent."

and

"But you see you, you can't distinguish between a robot and the very best of humanity."

Asimov creates a fictional history of sorts through nine stories told by Susan Calvin, robo-psychologist. The stories have all the pluses - beautiful language, light humor, page-turning suspense, some freshening ideas and takes on morality. The history is complete with 'technological singularity' being achieved and humanoids - and yet since those laws are very root of it, AI can't harm humans.

Since robots' psychology is similar to humans, many a problem faced with them offers insights into the human psyche. For instance, my favorite robot was Cutie (overall second only to Marvin - the robot with existential issues from Hitchhiker's guide), a skeptic robot who won't believe his makers and rather reach his own conclusions:

"Since when is the evidence of our senses any match for the clear light of rigid reason?"

And if it still didn't remind you of Descartes:

"I have spent these last two days in concentrated introspection" said Cutie, "and the results have been most interesting. I began at one sure assumption I felt permitted to make. I, myself, exist, because I think-"

However, it was more fun when he turned religious:

"There is no Master but the Master and QT-1 is his prophet."

Though what makes it awesome is that neither his skepticism nor his religious mania stopped him from doing what he was supposed to be doing. It is this kind of insight I loved. Where robots face minor dilemmas, they develop defense mechanisms - a sense of humor. Upon facing major dilemmas, they may act like drunk or go mad. Where a robot started understanding human feelings - so help me, he learned to lie.