logo

33 pages 1 hour read

Robot Dreams

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1986

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Background

Authorial Context: Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov was born between October 4, 1919, and January 2, 1920, in Petrovichi, Russia, but he moved with his family to the United States when he was three years old. His parents owned a candy store in Brooklyn, and it was here that he developed a voracious appetite, not for candy, but for reading. Asimov earned a PhD in biochemistry from Columbia University and later served as a professor at Boston University School of Medicine. His scientific background deeply influenced his writing, providing a solid foundation for the speculative elements in his stories.

Asimov is perhaps most famous for formulating the Three Laws of Robotics, first introduced in his 1942 short story “Runaround,” part of the collection titled I, Robot. These laws have since become a cornerstone in discussions about the ethical programming of artificial intelligence.

[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 the 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 Laws (Asimov, Isaac.
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 33 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools