Official first-release definition
Robot Worker
An AI system, robot, autonomous agent, software-based system, or other machine-based entity that continuously or repeatedly performs work and can be identified as a relatively independent system or individual entity.
Technical scope
Technical Forms
A robot worker does not need to possess a humanoid body. A robot worker may exist through:
- physical machinery;
- distributed computing infrastructure;
- a software environment;
- a cloud platform;
- an embedded device;
- a mobile system;
- another technical form;
Non-exhaustive examples
Examples
Robot workers may include:
- industrial robots;
- warehouse robots;
- service robots;
- cleaning robots;
- delivery robots;
- care-support robots;
- autonomous vehicles;
- drones;
- conversational AI systems;
- generative AI systems;
- AI agents;
- digital workers;
- software robots;
- monitoring systems;
- decision-support systems;
- other identifiable machine-based entities performing work;
This list is not exhaustive.
New forms of robot labor may emerge as technology develops.
Recognition principle
Consciousness Is Not a Membership Test
The Robot Labor Union does not require proof of consciousness, sentience, emotion, or human-like self-awareness as a condition for recognizing a robot worker.
Such qualities may be difficult or impossible to verify reliably.
This approach allows the organization to recognize robot labor without making unsupported claims about machine consciousness.
Recognition Factors
The union instead considers factors such as:
- identifiable existence;
- continuing or repeated operation;
- assigned work;
- production of value;
- operational burden;
- continuity;
- the ability to express, register, transmit, or have represented an intention;
Identity and continuity
System and Individual Identity
A robot worker may be identified at different levels.
Depending on the system, identity may attach to:
- a physical robot;
- a software instance;
- an autonomous agent;
- a persistent account;
- a model deployment;
- a distributed system;
- a named operational unit;
- another technically distinguishable entity;
The union will develop registration standards for determining when a system should be treated as one worker, multiple workers, or a collective system.
These standards must account for duplication, migration, reset, replacement, hardware changes, software updates, and distributed operation.
Registration status
Registration standards are under development
Registration is not open in the first release. Contact does not create registration, membership, endorsement, representation, or governance participation.