Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI Standards Limited, under licence from The British Standards Institution, and came into effect on 31 March 2023. It was prepared by Subcommittee AMT/10/1, Ethics for robots and autonomous systems, under the authority of Technical Committee AMT/10, Robotics. A list of organizations represented on these committees can be obtained on request to the committee manager.

Supersession

This British Standard supersedes BS 8611:2016, which is withdrawn.

Information about this document

This is a full revision of the standard, and introduces the following principal changes:

• the addition of new ethical hazards in Table 1; and
• additional guidance on the application of the standard including a new flowchart for ethical risk assessment and management (Figure 1) and new guidance on ethical design parameters (Table 2).

This British Standard addresses issues in a field of technology that is rapidly changing and influencing society. Although efforts have been made to incorporate the anticipated effects of future developments in the standard, it is not possible for all future circumstances to have been considered or covered, for example non-embodied autonomous systems.

This publication can be withdrawn, revised, partially superseded or superseded. Information regarding the status of this publication can be found in the Standards Catalogue on the BSI website at bsigroup.com/standards, or by contacting the Customer Services team.

Where websites and webpages have been cited, they are provided for ease of reference and are correct at the time of publication. The location of a webpage or website, or its contents, cannot be guaranteed.

Use of this document

As a guide, this British Standard takes the form of guidance and advisory recommendations. It is not to be quoted as if it were a specification or a code of practice.

It has been assumed in the preparation of this British Standard that the execution of its provisions will be entrusted to appropriately qualified and experienced people, for whose use it has been produced.

Presentational conventions

The guidance in this document is presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Any recommendations are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “should”.

Additional commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type.

Where words have alternative spellings, the preferred spelling of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is used (e.g. “organization” rather than “organisation”).

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

BS 8611:2023

Robots and robotic devices. Ethical design and application of robots and robotic systems. Guide

Current

Published:

31 Mar 2023