Should we make friends with robots?
Friendly bots are set to be very popular gifts this Christmas.
Robots from films are famously loveable; from WALL-E to BB-8 from Star Wars, they often upstage the humans they appear alongside. In real life, robots are a different matter. Robots don’t have real feelings, but technological advances are making it appear as though they do. A new generation of robots, especially designed to become pals with people, will soon be on sale. Making friends might sound easy, but actually it’s very complicated. Most relationships are based on feelings. Humans form friendships with other humans because they like and trust them, and sharing feelings is a huge part of any relationship. Should we befriend these high-tech toys, or are there dangers in expecting robots to be our buddies?
Yes – we should embrace technology
As technology advances, robots are becoming an ever-bigger part of our lives. Researchers have found, for example, that high-tech robot companions can have a positive effect on people’s behaviour.
For instance, children playing a puzzle game with a robot programmed to respond positively were found to be more positive themselves. Robot buddies aren’t a replacement for real friends, but there’s no reason why they can’t be enjoyed alongside them, like an imaginary friend. Making real pals isn’t always easy – robots might help the lonely. Besides, robots are really cool. The fact that we can enjoy the company of machines is amazing – we should embrace the wonders of technology in all its forms.
No – it sets a dangerous trend
To some, it’s obvious that robots can’t feel emotion. To others, it’s not so clear. For vulnerable people, like the old, the young or the lonely, having a companion that appears to care about them could be confusing. Those people could become dependent on robots and miss out on opportunities to make real friends. Robots are machines that may be built by people who have ulterior motives. Large companies invest millions of pounds to design and make them. The companies aren’t doing it for fun – they’re doing it to make money. They could exploit a bot’s friendship with someone to get that person to buy things for the robot – and give the company more money. We should build our relationships with each other – not machines.