Legal Challenges of Humanizing Robots. A Study of the Responsibility and Autonomy of Robots Equipped with Artificial Intelligence


Authors: Mohamed F. Shehta, Usama M. Ibrahem, Gamal S. Khalifa

Abstract: Recent decades have witnessed significant developments in smart robotics and other artificial intelligence technologies. Robots are no longer just machines that carry out specific commands; rather, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, they can interact with humans and make decisions independently. This is particularly true because the programming of these robots enables them to grow and learn from their own experiences. The enormous capabilities that robots were able to possess led them to replace humans in most places and professions, which gave rise to the term "humanization of the robot" to refer to human-like robots that can make decisions and interact socially in a way that mimics human behavior. However, the real problem with this development lies in two parts. This research aims to explore the legal implications surrounding the autonomy and accountability of AI-equipped robots, focusing on how existing laws can adapt to address issues of responsibility in human-robot interactions. First, this development presents both advantages and disadvantages. The robot that helps humans perform their tasks better can unpredictably transform at any moment into an undeterrable and unstoppable human-killing monster. The second issue is that international jurisprudence has yet to establish a legal framework that defines the legal nature of these robots and confines them to a specific set of controls and laws. It also obliges their makers, programmers, and owners to adhere to these controls. In addition to previous legislation, the theory of the “responsible human representative” must be applied, which stipulates that they legally bear civil, tort, and criminal liability for what their robots do.

Pages: 21-32

DOI: 10.46300/9109.2025.19.3

International Journal of Education and Information Technologies, E-ISSN: 2074-1316, Volume 19, 2025, Art. #3

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