Friendly Robots

Technology; the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. But what does that mean? Most products in this modern world are technology; from the creation of fire to things as advanced as an automaton. These inventions are advancing at a rapid pace on account of scientists keep moving forward; but how much further will we progress? Consequently, we have no idea what will come next with these developments, but people might receive that as an excellent sign. Either way, the fact remains: technology is progressing, advancing, and increasing all over the world, but we have no idea what the future will hold for these machines. Notwithstanding, robots are detrimental to society for a profuse amount of reasons;

Although robots can imitate human emotions, they do not have real feelings; their deception can only go so far. As portrayed in the article “Why These Friendly Robots Can’t Be Good Friends to Our Kids” by The Washington Post adapted by Newsela, robots can easily trick people, especially younger children, into believing that they have feelings that the typical human would have. The author writes that “The children took the robots’ behavior to signify feelings. When the robots interacted with them, the children took this as evidence that the robots liked them. When the robots didn’t work as expected, the children took it personally, and their relationships with the robots affected their self-esteem” (Washington Post 7). These robots are artificial, their intelligence is artificial; hence the name: “artificial intelligence”. These machines’ intentions are fabricated, therefore, when they try and have a relationship with a human, they are plain out tricking them; toying with their emotions. As an effect, what people perceive, are not in fact a reality; “they [robots] pretend to have emotions and empathy” (Washington Post 3). Though it’s not just that,

Since these traits of robots are so close to those of humans, it could easily be mistakable as authentic. The article, “Why These Friendly Robots Can’t Be Good Friends to Our Kids”, compares these fake relationships to those of real relationships between two conscious creatures. “No matter what robotic creatures ‘say’. They don’t understand our emotional lives. They have not been born, and they don’t know pain or fear. Robot thinking may be thinking, but robot feeling is never feeling, and robot love is never love” (Washington Post 12). If these feelings don’t exist, then how is a relationship between a robot and a human, or even another robot, possible? This question could be set side by side with the inquiry; if a replica of a human is made, containing the same knowledge and brain, are they the same person? The answer would be no. It is impossible to transfer someone’s soul, memories, and feelings. Likewise, it isn’t possible for this type of relationship with a robot, at least not a real one. “In one study, an 8-year-old boy concluded that the robot stopped talking to him because the robot liked his brothers better” (Washington Post 8). This child had no idea that his new friend was actually a computer in disguise. In the end, all this “relationship” accomplished, was destroying the boy’s confidence and trust. Clearly, these machines don’t have feelings to decide what to