[NetEase Smart News, August 19] Robots are increasingly being employed to simplify daily tasks such as housekeeping and healthcare. However, in a progressively isolated world, can these machines help combat loneliness?
At Australia's largest one-day robotics music festival in Brisbane, researchers are probing whether humans and artificial intelligence robots can forge meaningful human-machine connections and the implications of such bonds.
A recent study published by the American Psychological Association cautions that loneliness and social isolation pose greater public health risks than obesity.
Professor Ron Arkin, an American robotic ethics expert from the Georgia Institute of Technology, predicts that robotic companions will likely become commonplace in the future—raising urgent ethical considerations about forming close ties with robots.
"The advent of robots presents numerous risks for our future. The development of intimate robots is among the most significant issues," said Professor Arkin, a visiting scholar at Queensland University of Technology.
He noted that the present interaction between humans and robots remains predominantly task-oriented. "We assign them jobs and expect them to complete them," he remarked. Now, however, some of these tasks require robots to work closely with people, and in several instances, robots can develop relationships with humans akin to those between people.
Professor Arkin emphasized the pressing concern of defining the appropriate proximity of these relationships. "If the bond between robots and humans becomes too intense, it could erode human-to-human relationships, potentially leading to dystopian outcomes," he stated.
"Should we consider them as partners, much like fellow humans... Do robots need to possess the capability to perceive and genuinely feel respect?"
Are companion robots merely sex toys?
Professor Arkin argued that anyone who has watched the movie "Westworld" would reject the notion that companion robots are mere sex toys.
He contended that while sex toys have existed for centuries, 21st-century robots have the capacity to learn and respond to individuals. This fosters a distinct connection. "They can create an illusion of life. They can instill a feeling that the robot is solely focused on you," he explained.
By delving into human psychology, robotics specialists can equip robots with this functionality, but the crucial question is whether we should pursue this path, what the consequences might be, and under what conditions such developments are acceptable.
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Robots as Educational Tools
During a particular holiday, South Korean art consultant and manager Doo Eun Hot Hoi showcased the advantages and support robots offer in education.
She introduced a panda robot designed to assist children’s learning by helping them read fairy tales like "The Little Mermaid."
Through app applications and voice recognition, the robot responds to the questions children might have about the story or its characters.
"When learning, you need a companion," she stated.
"This panda (robot) will help you with this book, answering your questions based on your comprehension." [From: ABC News, translated by Geena Bal and Quasi-quietly teaching: Wang Qianxun]
This article is produced by NetEase Smart Studio (public account smartman 163). Focus on AI and stay ahead in the next technological era!
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