Robots and the People Who Love Them: Holding On to Our Humanity in an Age of Social Robots

This captivating report from science writer Herold (Beyond Human) examines the rise of robot “nannies, friends, therapists, caregivers, and lovers” that promise “to cater to our needs in ways that no human ever could.” Highlighting cutting-edge androids already on the market, Herold notes that the three-foot-tall Pepper, created by the French robotics company Aldebaran to provide companionship, can read and respond to human expressions (“he” might play a favorite song if he “notices that you look sad”), and iPal, a “child-size humanoid robot” designed by AvatarMind Robot Technology for childcare and entertainment, can dance, play games, “wake your child up in the morning and tell him when it’s time to get dressed.” Even as Herold cites research showing the benefits of these technologies—for instance, a study found that working with an educational robot improved the communication skills of children with autism—she emphasizes the need for caution, suggesting that the “asymmetrical” nature of human-android bonds, in which “the human partner has all the power and need not consider the needs of another,” could set up damaging expectations for what humans expect from their relationships with each other. The fascinating examples demonstrate the impressive abilities of contemporary tech, and Herold’s clear-eyed analysis of androids’ shortcomings offers a welcome corrective to techno-utopian portents. This is sure to spark conversation. (Jan.)