The problem of ascribing legal responsibility in the case of robotics

The recent development of robotics poses new challenges for the legislature as well as for jurisprudence. Especially, the ascription of responsibility to a specific individual becomes more difficult when confronted with an autonomous, learning and decision-making robot. A discussion about how to solve the problems of the wronged party having to prove the cause of the damage and the person responsible for it has to take place. One possible solution could be to ascribe a specific legal status to autonomous machines, similar to the status of legal persons (corporations). Discussing responsibility in this context should also include the question of the consequences of us intentionally handing over decision-making onto machines. This transfer as well as the development of robotics as such will have repercussions on the normative concepts our society is based upon. The space for these changes has to be created consciously.