AI Research and Production Restriction Act

The Artificial Intelligence Research and Production Restriction Act (AIRPRA) is a piece of legislation that places strict rules governing research on true artificial intelligence (AI) in the [United Empire of Earth](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/VyvyKxy4v6-united-empire-of-earth)(UEE). Popularly referred to as "the AI ban," it originated after the disappearance of the Artemis, a long-haul colony ship containing thousands of individuals in cryogenic storage. The AI that had been designed to monitor and pilot the ship was blamed, and politicians latched onto the restriction of AI research as a wedge issue to secure votes. Many countries went on to ban artificial intelligence over the next few decades. When the [United Nations of Earth](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/R4ZQpY83oO-united-nations-of-earth) (UNE) was created in 2380, its architects included AI restrictions in its earliest laws. The [United Planets of Earth](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0QxBjKP2PN-united-planets-of-earth) (UPE) and the UEE kept AIRPRA in place during their formations, and it remains the law of the land.

# OVERVIEW

AIRPRA grants the [Senate](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/VaZn8OqaNZ-senate) the authority to review and approve or deny all artificial intelligence research, commercial and non commercial. It defines artificial intelligence as "any software or hardware that can convincingly imitate intelligent Human behavior." This broad definition places severe limits on any kind of research that can be done in the AI field, and has effectively banned its production and use throughout the UEE. Specific guidelines include:

 

• A ban on the reception of government funding for AI research.

• A requirement for Senate approval on privately funded artificial intelligence research.

• If approved, the research must be strictly supervised by the UEE Science and Technology Committee.

• A notice that approval can be revoked at any time.

• A ban on selling any product that displays signs of artificial intelligence.

 

Any person found in violation of AIRPRA is subject to arrest and may be sentenced to imprisonment for 15 to 20 years. Corporations and research institutions found to be knowingly abetting AI research are subject to a sliding scale of fines and are subject to asset seizure.

# HISTORY

In 2043, the Eakara Company launched a line of self-driving cars powered by what they claimed to be the first true AI. This differed from earlier products marketed as AI, which were deep generative models that could mimic the qualities of [Human](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0Nwpnr6wa2-humans) intelligence but did not truly possess it. This new AI, Eakara promised, had the intelligence, good judgment, and fast reaction time of the most seasoned Human drivers. The city of Tokyo was an early investor, and purchased a fleet of cars and buses to bulk up their transportation infrastructure in areas too distant from train stations to be easily reached on foot.

In 2044, while driving on a road on a high cliff, one of the Eakara buses made a wrong turn and plummeted over the edge to the sea below, resulting in 21 deaths. Fifteen minutes later, another bus followed, this one with 37 passengers aboard. Authorities contacted Eakara and the company's technicians sent out an emergency command to force all self-driving vehicles in Tokyo and its outskirts to immediately stop without finishing their current trips. Vehicles not engaged in active trips stopped as commanded, but those that were transporting passengers at the time ignored the command continued their trips to completion. Although the vast majority did this without incident, three more buses and 18 cars suffered fatal accidents before all vehicles in the fleet ended their trips and finally stopped moving. 113 people in total died. This became known as the "Lemming Car Incident," and resulted in the dissolution of the Eakara Company. The nation of Japan banned the use of AI in self-driving cars, but similar bans would not be enacted elsewhere until deadly incidents caused by cars from other companies occurred in New York in 2044 and Johannesburg in 2047.

With public distrust in AI high and investors unwilling to back AI-led ventures, researchers began to focus on its application in the sciences rather than day to day life. In 2055, an AI helped to identify a type of bacteria commonly found in the digestive systems of apex carnivores that was utilized to prevent prion diseases. Another AI helped synthesize a cure for rabies. One especially advanced AI was put in charge of calculating the spacecraft trajectories that ensured early missions to Mars were successful. These triumphs helped thaw public opinion and paved the way for AI usage in early terraforming platforms used on Mars.

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