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Robots could be given legal status as “electronic persons”, under new plans being considered by the European Parliament.

MEPs have called for the adoption of comprehensive rules for how humans will interact with robots, androids, bots and other artificially intelligent creations.

The report states that these machines are about to, “unleash a new industrial revolution, which is likely to leave no stratum of society untouched”.

"The most sophisticated autonomous robots could be established as having the status of electronic persons with specific rights and obligations, including that of making good any damage they may cause," the report states.

Despite discussing this status change for robots the report also mentions the inclusion of a kill switch in all of the machines.

(Image: Getty)

It says users should be able to interact with these robots, “without risk or fear of physical or psychological harm”.

However, not everyone agrees that robots should be given legal status. Lorna Brazell, a law firm partner, told the BBC that robots have no more of a right to be "personhood" than other mammals.

“Blue whales and gorillas don't have personhood but I would suggest that they have as many aspects of humanity as robots, so I don't see why we should jump into giving robots this status,” she said.

The difference could be in the level of intelligence. AI is predicted to surpass human intelligence in just a few decades.

The report says this could “pose a challenge to humanity's capacity to control its own creation and, consequently, perhaps also to its capacity to be in charge of its own destiny and to ensure the survival of the species”.

(Image: AFP)

The report requests the creation of a European agency for robotics and artificial intelligence that can provide technical, ethical and regulatory expertise.

This could then be used as an ethics committee body to advise and give the go-ahead to designers for new robot designs and developments.

There is also a suggestion of a universal basic income for humans who will have their jobs taken by the new wave of robots.

If the legislation is voted in by European Parliament then individual governments will need to start further debate and amendments before it becomes EU law.