In a rush to fetch your morning latte from Starbucks, your Homebot 3000 pushes a elderly woman to her death in front of an oncoming bus. Who is responsible? Can it stand in line for you at the movie theater? Can it deliver your absentee ballot on election day? Can it vote for you in accordance with your instructions? What if you permit it to decide who to vote for? Can it buy beer for you? How about for your teenage son using his fake ID?

You order a drink from an electronic bartender at the ball park. Can it refuse to serve you because you are visibly drunk? You summon a self-driving taxi to take you home. On the way, it injures you by running off the road to save the lives of two pedestrians. Do you have a cause of action, and against whom? Suppose it’s saving dogs instead of people? Is the answer different if the taxi service is provided for free by the city of San Francisco? Or if you own the vehicle?

The advent of intelligent machines and programs raise complex new issues for society and the law.  To what extent can such systems act as your agent? What limitations should we place on their use? When do they have a duty to prevent or report illegal activity? Can they be held partially or fully responsible, and if so, how can they be punished? Attend this talk to learn the answers – or send your Homebot 3000 instead. (Should it be permitted to take a piece of pizza?)

Come to this event to hear Jerry Kaplan speak about these fascinating issues in a fireside chat with Dan Siciliano