Enter the Matrix: Developing a Big Red Button for AI and Robots

The first paper raising the concern over AI safety came out in 1994. Only in the last couple of years have we seen a concerted interest in making sure that AI and robots cannot intentionally or unintentionally harm individuals or themselves. This is due to a number of public statements of concern from Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, and Nick Bostrom. But it is a sentiment expressed by many people who are seeing some amazing advances play out in the public press, such as AI systems driving cars, playing Atari at human-like skill levels, and publicly beating humans in the games of Jeopardy! Scientists have already started conducting research in "AI Safety".