The second law states that

>A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

But it says nothing about property. What if a robot owned by someone is given an order by someone else?

Surely if the same person gives contradictory orders, the last one will be executed :

>Move that box upstairs. Wait no, just put it on the porch.

But what if a robot is carrying groceries outside, and someone says :

>Hey you, stop what you're doing and take those groceries to my appartment

It shouldn't agree to do that.

So, do people just say "*Only obey me*" when they buy a robot? Does that mean a robot ignores every order by non-owners, even if it's small help like helping an old lady cross the road? The robot would have to tell between harmless orders from strangers and orders that cause non-physical harm (like stealing their stuff, smashing their car, etc.)

If a households owns a robot, they'll say something like "*Only obey me and my family*", then what if orders contradict inside family members?

How does it work exactly? Is it just managed by some part of the AI less fundamental than the 3 rules?

<sub>I've never read Asimov, sorry if it's explained in the first chapter of the first book. I didn't see it discussed anywhere.</sub>