Your child--marry a robot? | independencemedia

Will your child (or grandchild) marry a robot?

CURRICULUM: Responsibility to Others: People Like You & Me

Summary: At first the question seems impossible, but consider the convergence of cognitive science, artificial intelligence and robotics converge; the increasingly diverse rules about relationships and families; and our high comfort level with technology. A reasoned discussion examines our most personal relationships--and the future of the human race.

Basic Understanding:

Many types of marriage (the concept evolves)

Monogamy, polygamy, group marriage, arranged marriage, same sex, temporary, more

Considerations: age, race, same sex, number of spouses, cultural norms, custom, ritual, religion
Artificial intelligence

Decision-making, reasoning, problem-solving, planning, learning; natural language

Motion, manipulation
Human-like robotsSensory: eyes to see, ears to hear, mouth to talk and taste, skin to feel

Facial expressions connected to speech, listening, nonverbal communication

Arm, leg, body mobility in human-like way; human-like hair, height, weight

Soft touch; move like people move; robot femininity, masculinity, androgyny

“Personality” traits: sense of humor, compassionate listening, judgment, emotions

Humans and robots learn to understand one another, provide feedback, deal with ethical and philosophical issues, knowing right from wrong

Issues and Open Questions:

What makes a marriage?

Personal affection; companionship; physical compatibility; shared living space

Sacred love

Produces offspring; part of a larger family; merger of families

Legal and religious recognition
Customizable and upgradeable partners

Add/change feature set: Upgrade?; “Fun package?”

Add/change/delete personality traits

Improve, degrade memory

Time machine - return system to a particular date
Steadily increasing comfort level with personal technology

Reliance on mobile devices, computers, wearable devices; videogame culture

Development of cyber / digital personalities
Future of Human Race: human-machine reproduction

Genetic engineering, robots, cyborgs

Robots outlive humans - shift in control?