As Artificial Intelligence （AI） becomes increasingly sophisticated （先进的，尖端的）, there are growing concerns that robots could become a threat （威胁）． This danger can be avoided, according to computer science professor Stuart Russell, if we figure out how to turn human values into a programmable code.

Russell argues that as robots take on more complicated tasks, it's necessary to translate our morals （道德） into AI language.

For example, if a robot does chores around the house, you wouldn't want it to put the pet cat in the oven to make dinner for the hungry children． "You would want that robot preloaded with a good set of values," said Russell.

Some robots are already programmed with basic human values. For example, mobile robots have been programmed to keep a comfortable distance from humans. Obviously there are cultural differences, but if you were talking to another person and they came up close in your personal space, you wouldn't think that's the kind of thing a properly brought-up person would do.

It will be possible to create more sophisticated moral machines, if only we can find a way to set out human values as clear rules.

Robots could also learn values from drawing patterns from large sets of data on human behavior. They are dangerous only if programmers are careless.

The biggest concern with robots going against human values is that human beings fail to do sufficient testing and they've produced a system that will break some kind of taboo（禁忌）.

One simple check would be to program a robot to check the correct course of action with a human when faced with an unusual situation.

If the robot is unsure whether an animal is suitable for the microwave, it has the opportunity to stop, send out beeps （嘟嘟声）, and ask for directions from a human. If we humans aren't quite sure about a decision, we go and ask somebody else.

The most difficult step in programming values will be deciding exactly what we believe is moral, and how to create a set of ethical （道德伦理的） rules． But if we come up with an answer, robots could be good for humanity.

The city of Brighton and Hove is asking to use “bee bricks” in the construction of all buildings above 5 meters to help encourage bees which don’t harm humans to nest (筑巢) in them.

Bee bricks are what seem to be pieces of Swiss cheese, but they are actually normal building bricks created with small holes into which bees typically nest. Old brick buildings have been considered as excellent habitat for bees, so Brighton and Hove is trying to use this simple invention to offer more room to bees.

Not everyone concurs that these bee bricks are a good idea. Some point out that there is not enough proof that the holes are large enough for a bee nest, that they have a population impact, or that the holes have to be cleaned to prevent harmful mites (螨虫)from living there.

However, there are studies that find bees will build nests inside these holes and cap the entry ways to hibernate(冬眠). Some scientists add that the mites will disappear after one or two seasons and that they don’t need to be cleaned.

Lars Chittka, a professor at Queen Mary University, said that bees naturally own hygienic (卫生的) behavior that would allow them to reduce the risks at least to some degree, or that they would examine the holes’ states before using them, which should to some degree reduce the risks that come with such long-term nesting opportunities.

Faye Clifton, CEO of Green &Blue, the company that makes the bricks, says modern buildings don’t have these natural holes bees depend on. If not for bee bricks, she warns, hundreds of miles of land could lose its biological diversity. She also stresses bee-friendly planting needs to go with the use of bee bricks as most bees will only search for food within 100 meters of their nesting places.