On building a person: benchmarks for robotic personhood

Abstract

I present criteria or benchmarks of personhood that robotic agents must pass for them to match us in social intelligence and indicate some current successes and difficulties for the future with respect to these criteria. I focus on five problematic areas: 1) How can inorganic material substances mimic organic processes?; 2) How can robots evolve adaptations similar to those of human persons?; 3) How can robots develop into adult personhood?; 4) How can social identities of robots transform in an ever evolving robotic society?; 5) How can robots display intellectual and moral ideals that can advance knowledge and social goals?