iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The Three Laws of Robotics are fictional rules Isaac Asimov devised for robots in his stories. They rank human safety first, obedience to human orders second, and a robot’s self-preservation third. They are a literary idea—not real-world regulations, an engineering standard, or a guarantee that a robot will behave safely.
What are the Three Laws of Robotics?
The laws are an ordered code that Asimov’s fictional robots are said to follow:
- First Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where those orders would conflict with the First Law.
- Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence, as long as that protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
The rules are hierarchical: the First Law overrides the Second, and both override the Third. The qualifications matter. A robot’s self-preservation is not supposed to take precedence over a human order, and obedience is not supposed to justify harming a person.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWho created the laws, and where did they first appear?
Science-fiction author Isaac Asimov devised the rules for his robot stories. He said he listed them in the March 1942 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. “Runaround” is the first story to state all three explicitly; it was later collected in I, Robot (1950). Asimov recalled, “I called it the ‘Three Laws of Robotics.’” His talk, transcribed in The Impact of Science on Society, describes the rules and their fictional setting. “Runaround” provides the story context and publication details.
#1 Best Overall
In the stories, the laws are associated with positronic brains and are presented as built-in safeguards. Asimov distinguished those imaginary mechanisms from the industrial robots of his own time, which relied on external safety systems. The “Handbook of Robotics, 56th edition, 2058 A.D.” cited in the fictional framework is not a real publication.
Why do the laws create dilemmas in the stories?
The rules sound simple, but applying them can be difficult when a robot faces uncertainty, competing instructions, or a choice between action and inaction. “Runaround,” for example, turns on tension between the Second and Third Laws. A command can pull a robot toward an action even as self-preservation pulls it away; the hierarchy determines which rule should prevail, while the story explores the consequences of that conflict.
That tension is part of the laws’ role as a literary device: they let Asimov build plots around interpretation and unintended consequences, rather than presenting the rules as a practical safety manual.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Are the Three Laws real rules for robots?
No. They are fictional principles, not universal technical standards or current regulations, and robots in the real world do not automatically follow them. Asimov’s distinction between story robots and industrial machines is important: actual systems depend on their design, controls, operating environment, and safety measures. The fictional laws cannot guarantee that a deployed machine will prevent harm or obey a person safely.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the Zeroth Law?
Asimov later extended the fictional code with a Zeroth Law, concerning harm to humanity as a whole. In that later framework, it takes priority over the original three. It is a subsequent addition—not one of the original laws—and shifts the scope from individual people to humanity collectively.
Readers who want the story in which the original three are stated can find “Runaround” in Asimov’s collection I, Robot.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
