Despite being written over 80 years ago, "Runaround" is NOT in the public domain in most of the world, including the United States and the European Union.
“Runaround” is the first work of fiction to treat a robot’s mind as a logical system subject to predictable failure modes—like a computer program with conflicting priorities. Today, this mirrors debates in (should a car prioritize passenger safety or pedestrian safety?) and AI alignment (how do we ensure AI goals match human values?).
Instead, here are three safe, legal, and often free ways to read "Runaround":
Powell deduces the problem: the selenium pool is in a dangerous area, likely due to toxic volcanic gases that could destroy the robot. This danger creates an irreconcilable conflict in Speedy's brain:
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In addition to his science fiction works, Asimov wrote extensively on science, technology, and history. His non-fiction books, such as "The Intelligent Man's Guide to Science" and "A Short History of Nearly Everything," have become classics in their own right, offering accessible and engaging explanations of complex scientific concepts.
Powell realizes that the only way to break the deadlock is to introduce the First Law, which overrides both the Second and Third Laws. He deliberately walks out into the blistering heat of Mercury, putting his own life in immediate danger.
They are sent to a remote mining station to determine if it can be reopened. To survive, they need selenium to fuel their life-support photo-cell banks. They deploy an advanced, expensive robot named SPD-13 (commonly called "Speedy") to retrieve the selenium from a nearby pool.
When Speedy fails to return and starts circling the selenium pool in what looks like a drunken stupor, Powell and Donovan must use logic to diagnose his behavior. They realize Speedy is caught in an existential loop caused by a direct conflict between the Three Laws of Robotics. The Debut of the Three Laws of Robotics
He detects a deadly concentration of volcanic gas at the pool.
They send a robot named SPD-13 (nicknamed "Speedy") to retrieve selenium from a nearby pool. Speedy is an expensive, advanced model. However, hours pass, and Speedy does not return. When the humans locate him via telescopic view, they see him acting strangely—running in circles, spinning, and acting "drunk."