MEDIA COMMENTARY: Can Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws Help Us Control Artificial Intelligence?

Aug 11, 2026 at 12:55 am


MEDIA COMMENTARY: Artificial intelligence continues to raise difficult questions about control, responsibility and what happens when rapidly advancing technology begins operating beyond the expectations of its creators. In this media commentary, Dr. Larry Burriss of the MTSU School of Journalism looks back more than 80 years to science fiction writer Isaac Asimov and asks whether his famous “Three Laws of Robotics” may still offer a useful starting point for today’s AI debate... Listen to more from Dr. Burriss HERE

About Dr. Burriss - Dr. Larry Burriss is a highly accomplished professor of journalism with extensive experience in both academia and professional media. He teaches introductory journalism courses, media law, and quantitative research methods at the graduate level.

His academic credentials are impressive, holding five degrees:

Dr. Burriss has a distinguished career in print and broadcast news, public relations, and academic research. He has published extensively in both scholarly and popular publications, covering topics such as presidential press conferences, NASA photography, radio news, adolescent social media use, legal research, and even studies on Middle Earth.

In addition to his teaching and research, Dr. Burriss has held numerous leadership roles, including director of the School of Journalism, dean of the College of Mass Communication, and president of the MTSU Faculty Senate. His contributions to the state include being appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen to serve on the Tennessee Board of Regents.

A decorated professional, Dr. Burriss has won first place in the Tennessee Associated Press Radio Contest nine times. He also has a distinguished military background, serving as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force. His active-duty service included deployments to Mali, Somalia, Bosnia, Central America, Europe, and the Pentagon.

Dr. Burriss continues to inspire students and colleagues with his vast knowledge, experience, and dedication to the field of journalism and media studies.

 

 

Tags: AI control AI governance AI regulation AI responsibility AI safety Artificial Intelligence artificial intelligence ethics Dr. Larry Burriss First Amendment comparison future of artificial intelligence Isaac Asimov Larry Burriss media commentary Middle Tennessee State University MTSU commentary MTSU School of Journalism Murfreesboro TN robotics laws Runaround Isaac Asimov science fiction and technology technology and society Three Laws of Robotics Zeroth Law
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