Because nothing’s more romantic than a robot saying, ‘The first time I saw you, my hard drive crashed.’ Are we really in an era where people are fantasizing about robots or having them as their ideal soulmates? Or is it a world of perversion?

Human emotions are boundless and cannot be easily constrained by rules or regulations. Every individual, at some point in their lifetime, desires to experience emotions that can heal their pain and erase their regrets or unfulfilled aspirations.

We often seek a partner who can fill these gaps, make us laugh, and bring a twinkle to our eyes every time we see them. Is it romantic? And if it can be achieved by AI, programmed to provide endless and addictive comfort without any expectation?

Even though it may sound toxic, the challenges of the materialistic world and increasing needs have led people to seek emotional satisfaction and a space where they are accepted unconditionally.

As the movie ‘Cast Away’ reminds us of Tom Hanks’ challenging journey to find his way back home, it shows an unconditional friendship between a basketball and a human, proving that no matter what, humans need a companion, even if it’s imaginary.

We want someone to talk to, someone to discuss with. In the end, when the basketball was swept away, we saw an unusual and unimaginable display of emotions portrayed by Tom Hanks, losing his best friend, while conquering his journey way back home.

A weird but true friend who served its purpose and was swept away, allowing the hero to continue his journey.

The most important thing is that we witnessed real emotions for a soulless object under dire circumstances.

Can we judge anything about the situation? Can we judge the character who was considered dead by society but miraculously survived with only a soulless object as its witness? Can we separate them based on the rules and regulations that show symptoms of disillusionment, mental illness, or perversion?

What is actually right? Society norms or the support of someone in uncomfortable phases of your life?

Mostly, relationships are built for us to survive healthily. But when those relationships fail, where should we turn?

Pros of Human-Robot Interaction:

• Repetitive tasks can be automated by robots, allowing humans to rely on them as colleagues and focus on more complex tasks (although repetitive tasks are complex in themselves). Are we undervaluing activities that require high-cost robots to perform?

• In healthcare settings, robots can be useful assistants to support medical professionals 24/7 with their precision and provide effective results in patient care, surgeries, and rehabilitation.

• With more research and advancement, there is a growing demand for meaningful support from robots and the development of emotional relationships with humans to combat isolation and loneliness, even though it raises concerns.

• Human-robot interaction is providing valuable insights for educational purposes and helping us understand how AI and robots navigate the world and their perception based on input.

• Robots also assist disabled or mentally handicapped individuals in completing tasks and navigating their environment more easily.

• Technological progress has been fostered with the development of human-robot interaction, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in robotics and AI.

Cons of Human-Robot Interaction:

• Dependence on robots could result in job losses for humans, especially in industries where automation can replace human labor.

• Achieving good master-slave communication can result in senior engineers working with robots under control rather than humans, which can be challenging.

• Ethical concerns about the rights of robots are arising, including worries about exploitation and objectification.

• Social interaction with robots can lead to over-reliance, reducing human connections and increasing isolation.

• Increased dependence on robots can make it challenging for humans to adapt to new technologies or prioritize human-human collaboration over human-robot collaboration.

• Privacy can be easily compromised with robots equipped with sensors and cameras, creating opportunities for organizations seeking indisputable profits.

• The impact of human-robot relationships is uncertain, and robots may generate biases and discriminatory outputs influenced by their trainers.

• Understanding human emotions and non-verbal cues is complicated for robots (and even for humans), raising questions about whether the relationship will be truly bilateral with equity rather than one-sided for profitable advantage.

Even though it may seem unnatural and unethical, we don’t know if human-robot relationships will lead to a real massacre or if it’s just our fearful thoughts.

In my opinion, tolerance for human-to-human relationships may decrease, and we might come to a point where we prefer controlling relationships with the upper hand. As we navigate the world through different lenses, addiction, enjoyment, mastery, companionship, or curiosity will attract us at least once to experience what it can provide.

Sources:- GWs robotics, Forbes, Greater Good Magazine