January 16^th 2017 | Julia Becerra. Love in the Time of Artificial Intelligence.

The 2017 Consumers Electronics Show (CES) just ended and as much as there are very interesting and useful developments, there are also a few perhaps concerning ones.  For example, the growth and increasing development popularity of robots as companions to all people, old and young.  Robotics as a helper to human being’s daily activities it is something that we have seen coming up and actually we have dreaming of; it has been in films and cartoons for a long time; for example, think of Rosie the robot maid of The Jetsons 1960’s animated movie.

In the 2017 CES show we met Ubtech lynx robot, one that has given mobility to Amazon Alexa. The robot comes to you and find ways to help you as an assistant, besides being useful with other things like interacting with family members, using voice and facial expressions.   The robot design is quite interesting and what would come after that in the world of robots working as human assistants may be still even more surprising.

Ubtech lynx robot.

But what about robots as companions, as your daily partner. As somebody who you develop a relationship with.   It is good that we start thinking about this now, because it seems that we are getting closer and closer to that reality.

Computer scientists have predicted that as robots become more human-like, people may start turning to them for companionship. As they start to interact in ways just like adults, talking in real-time, and attending to your personal needs, robots may become the perfect companion.

Just imagine yourself putting out your wish list for the perfect boyfriend/girlfriend/partner. Now just imagine getting all that in the form of a handsome robot.  Nicely programmed he/she would remember all the important dates, birthdays and anniversaries; he/she would squeeze your hand when you feel sad and he would hug you when you get emotional. He/She would ask the right questions when you get home or when you go out to a dinner party with friends and family.

He may even pretend to get into an argument for human-like behavior sake but he would not hold any resentments. He/she may not snore at all and guess what ! It would not even notice if you do! And the wish list can go on and on.

This could put some pressure on the opposite sex. People may find themselves not only competing with peers but also with robots. Just imagine how this would work in dating websites.

The idea of a person falling in love with a robot may not be that far.  A study conducted by a group of researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology and Kyoto University in Japan, provides the first neurophysiological evidence of humans’ ability to empathize with robots.

Their results suggest that we empathize with humanoid robots in a similar way to how we empathize with other humans.

Now if on top of being caring, the robot is physically attractive, then there would be even more reasons for us as human beings to feel emotionally attached to a robot.  Not to go any further, let’s remember the Robot Geminoid-F, created by Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratory at Osaka University, to act like a human, and looked like one. Geminoid-F modeled after a woman in her twenties, is made with flexible rubber facial skin that gives it an ability to smile, laugh, and even grimace in a realistic manner. Geminoid-F has a pretty woman’s face and that along with her whole appearance earned her The World Sexiest Robot title.

As research continues, investment in artificial intelligence growths and the search for the” perfect other half” prevails, the idea of a Robot as a spouse or significant other may soon stop being just and idea and become a reality.

So yes, a robot could be the missing piece of the perfect couple puzzle. And once you have your own one, then this could create envy on some of your savvy friends who may want to hack into the robot system and make him do things that may compromise your happiness and perhaps your wellbeing, and then they would blame it all in the “Russians” or on some teenager playing games at home.

So what do you think? Would you date a robot?

I would love to read your thoughts and comments about it.

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