It sets up a conflict from the beginning and frankly presents the humans as just a bit more intelligent than in some AI scifi universes. They’re very concerned about robots taking jobs, killing humans, and even robbing humans of their autonomy. One thing I like about the world Asimov sets up is that unlike many scifi books featuring AI, the people in Asimov’s world are highly, intensely cautious of robots. This collection is a prequel of sorts (and of many) to Asimov’s robot series that begins with The Caves of Steel ( list of entire series). Beginning with the earliest robots, they slowly move up through important points in the history of robotics to lead up to the world run by big brain machine robots that Asimov has imagined. It’s precisely the type I enjoy though because they all work together to tell one overarching story in order. I wasn’t aware I, Robot is actually a short story collection. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.īut following these laws doesn’t always have quite the outcome the inventors and managers of robots intended.A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.The robots in this future must follow the 3 Laws of Robotics: This collection of short stories tells the history of the invention and gradual improvement of robots.

Isaac asimov i robot book