We’ve all seen the movies and the television shows which portray machines, most notably computers, as sentient beings. Whether they are benign entities like Star Trek’s Data or much more malevolent like the Terminator, they have become common place throughout science fiction.
But is the possibility of creating a sentient computer really that far-fetched? If not, what sort of legal ramifications would follow? In other words, if one could build a sentient computer, should said computer have legal status and the rights that accompany that status?
For a interesting look into this fascinating topic check out this piece by Benjamin Soskis in the online journal Legal Affairs. The article begins with the mock trial of a computer accused of trying to prevent its shutdown by the company that owns it.
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