Could you love a robot?

Robots are close ... In fact, they are already here, playing roles that previously seemed to be performed only by people. While we think about the future, watching science fiction, we already use electronic cash registers in supermarkets, and in Japan robots are used to help the elderly.

If the robot could show feelings and care like a person, would you want to get it? Robots can enter our lives in such a way that we begin to fall in love with them ...

It's time to think about them - about what they can do and what it means for us, before it goes too far.

Robots that we can love

Imagine a world where artificial intelligence (AI) takes its place, equal to man, in society. Writers and writers have tried to do this. Listed below are four provocative films in which a new view of the relationship is shown.

"Out of the car" (2015)

Robots can fulfill desires without notice and without conviction. "If you have a machine that you find aesthetically attractive, why not? Fall in love!" - this is the opinion of the director Alex Garland.

"She" (2013)

The protagonist of this film is lonely. Love for a robot in it is shown as a belief that a machine can understand a person and show kindness towards him, to which he will reciprocate.

"Robot and Frank" (2012)

According to director Jake Schreier, the question is "man or machine?" Sometimes it transforms into a "machine or nothing" choice, if it concerns elderly people. The relationship between the elderly protagonist and the robot, assigned to take care of him, is considered.

"City of Heroes" (2014)

Many parents have to work day and night to provide food and a decent life for themselves and their children. Unfortunately, in this situation there is no time for the child himself. In this case, who would like to have a friendly robot that will look after the children? "He wants to just touch and hug," - says the director of "Hero City".

A new kind of love

To date, the idea of a love relationship with a robot may seem strange or even completely wrong. But history knows many examples when the moral assessment of actions has changed dramatically. Was not it unacceptable to bare an ankle three centuries ago? And for homosexual relationships, people were severely punished and sent to prison ... Perhaps there is no reason to think that love for a robot can be different than love for a person?

Problems of relations with AI

Our relationship with AI will cause a number of new problems. This, for example, reduces the quality of life and the exploitation of both the robots themselves and people. Already, focusing on these issues, we can reduce their severity in the future.

The reaction of society

This may be the most important ethical decision of the 21st century. When the time comes, will you accept robots?

So far, three possible answers - yes, maybe / I do not know, no - have an equal potential.

• Yes. Japan, as always, is moving forward. The Japanese government already funds the creation and operation of robots to care for the elderly, because there is a problem of shortage of personnel in this area.
• Maybe / I do not know . Other people believe that we have plenty of time to think and make a decision. And they are also right. Complex humanoid drones from works of science fiction and remain the fruit of the imagination of writers. Cambridge scientists say that even 50 years to create such machines and their wide distribution is a very optimistic time.
• No. Some researchers believe that even human-like robots will not be "humanoid" in fact. We can assume that they love, because their behavior will talk about it. But they can not really love. "Humanization" of objects is already observed, and the more a robot will look and behave like a person, the more we will perceive it that way. But it's only in our perception!

What do you think? Have you ever thought about whether your great-great-great-great-grandchildren will share your point of view?