Since 2018, 31,500 older New Yorkers received robotic pets; 70% reported less loneliness.

These devices are marketed as companions, especially for older or isolated people.

Joy for All cats and puppies have soft fur and sensors, reduce anxiety and agitation in Alzheimer’s and dementia, cost $120–$140, and can give caregivers respite by engaging a person with dementia.

PARO, a seal‑like robot that reacts to words and expresses emotions, offers psychological and physiological benefits akin to animal therapy.

ElliQ uses AI to start conversations and provide services, with about 20 daily interactions and an 80% loneliness reduction.

Unitree’s Go 2 and Boston Dynamics’ Spot are available, priced from $2,774 to $74,500.

In care settings, robotic pets comfort people with dementia, veterans, and children with health challenges, reducing agitation and medication use.

In older adults, they’re linked to better mood, health, and well‑being; recipients report 70% less loneliness and 75% less pain, and studies show reduced anxiety, agitation, and depressive symptoms in dementia care.

Through some programs, Joy for All companions can be free, subsidized, or about $89 monthly.

ElliQ is offered as a subscription with a monthly fee and registration cost.

Public attitudes are generally positive, with AIBO and other robots aiding older adults despite cost and accessibility concerns.

Robots lack subjective experience and cannot reciprocate emotions, raising concerns about objectification.

Over‑reliance on robotic companions can reduce human social interaction and hinder social skills development.

The uncanny valley effect may cause unease, so careful deployment is important.

Developers are urged to design robots to supplement, not replace, human relationships, and to weigh the ethics of replacing real animals.

Mitigation in care settings includes safety protocols, staff training, and adherence to human‑robot collaboration guidelines and standards.

Since 2018, 31,500 older New Yorkers received robotic pets; 70% reported less loneliness.

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Cure For Loneliness? Robotic Pets Going Out To Thousands Of Socially Isolated NYers

Call it four-legged companionship without the need for potty training.

Thousands of animatronic pets are on their way to older, socially isolated New Yorkers in an effort to combat what experts describe as a crisis of loneliness.

The state’s Office for the Aging (OFA) announced Sunday, June 3, that Rhode Island-based Ageless Innovation is delivering another 4,725 robotic pets and games to elderly adults through New York State’s aging network.

Since 2018, OFA has distributed more than 31,500 of the plush, lifelike pets, which are designed to make realistic sounds and movements, to those assessed as socially isolated and lonely.

A pilot study conducted in 2018 found that 70 percent of recipients reported a reduction or significant reduction in loneliness, plus a 75 percent decrease in pain.

The state’s intergenerational game project, Joy for All, includes Scrabble Bingo, Trivial Pursuit Generations, and Game of Life Generations. Through a partnership with Hasbro launched in 2023, the games have been tailored to an older crowd by featuring larger fonts and intergenerational gameplay and storylines.

“We’ve initiated multiple innovative solutions, bolstered by technology, to connect people, provide companionship, and significantly reduce isolation and its consequences,” said OFA Director Greg Olsen. “Proudly, I can say data shows our efforts are working and exceeding expectations. “

Studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness put older adults at an increased risk of a number of health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, depression, cognitive decline, and even death, according to the National Council on Aging.

Learn more about New York’s Animatronic Pet Initiative, including eligibility, on the Office for the Aging website

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How AI Companions Are Redefining Human Relationships In The Digital Age

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In an era where technology is increasingly intertwined with every aspect of our lives, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has begun to fill roles that were traditionally reserved for humans, including those of friends, confidants, and even romantic partners. This burgeoning relationship between humans and AI raises profound questions about the nature of companionship, the human need for connection, and the potential consequences of substituting human interaction with digital entities.

The Emergence of AI Companions

The concept of AI companionship is not new, but its realization in practical applications is a relatively recent development. These AI companions are designed to provide emotional support, companionship, and in some cases, even mimic romantic or intimate human relationships. Replika is one of the most well-known examples. It is an AI chatbot designed to provide emotional support. Users interact with Replika through text conversations, and the AI learns over time to provide more personalized responses, simulating a genuine emotional connection.

Another example is Gatebox. They have taken the concept a step further by creating a holographic AI companion. Aimed at people who live alone, Gatebox’s AI avatar can send messages throughout the day, welcome users home, and even control smart home appliances, creating a sense of presence and companionship.

Next, there is Harmony by RealDoll. A more controversial use, Harmony combines AI with a lifelike humanoid robot to offer a romantic and physical companion. Harmony can hold conversations, remember user preferences, and express various personality traits.

The Psychology Behind AI Relationships

Why are people turning to AI for companionship? The reasons are as varied as the individuals themselves, but several key factors contribute to this phenomenon. First, we are experiencing a rapidly growing loneliness epidemic. In a world where social isolation and loneliness are increasingly recognized as major health risks, AI companions offer a semblance of connection for those who feel disconnected from human relationships. This is particularly poignant in countries like Japan, where societal changes have led to a rise in solitary lifestyles. Second, AI relationships provide a level of convenience and control that is not always possible in human interactions. These digital companions are available 24x7, don’t have their own emotional baggage, and can be switched off at the user’s convenience. Third, advances in AI technology have enabled these digital entities to appear more human-like in their interactions. From remembering past conversations to displaying empathy, AI companions can simulate many aspects of human interaction, making them more appealing as social partners.

The Impact on Human Relationships

The rise of AI companionship is not without its implications for society and how we perceive human relationships. For some, AI companions can serve as a bridge to better emotional health. These AI systems provide a non-judgmental space for people to express themselves, which can be particularly valuable for those with social anxiety or other mental health challenges. Moreover, AI companions serve as a stepping stone, helping individuals develop social skills and confidence that can be transferred to human relationships. However, there are concerns about the long-term impact of relying on AI for companionship. One major concern is that these relationships could lead to further social isolation, as individuals might prefer the uncomplicated nature of AI companions over the more challenging dynamics of human relationships. This could potentially exacerbate the loneliness epidemic rather than alleviate it. Then, there are also ethical considerations surrounding the development and use of AI in such intimate roles. The attachment to AI entities that don't possess genuine emotions or consciousness raises questions about the nature of empathy, affection, and what it means to be human.

Implications for Traditional Dating and Marriage

As AI companions become more prevalent and sophisticated, their impact on traditional dating and marriage is inevitable. There is a very real possibility that AI may supplement or even replace human relationships. For some people, AI companions are the outlet for support and companionship that are traditionally forged through human interaction. Moreover, we are already seeing a trend in which younger generations leverage Ai as a practice ground for social interactions, potentially enriching users' capacity to engage in human relationships. However, there is a possibility that some individuals might prefer AI companions to traditional human partners. The predictability, lack of judgment, and customizable nature of AI entities can make them more appealing, especially for those who have had negative experiences with human relationships. As a result, there is a changing perception of what companionship means. Thus, the rise of AI companions challenges our traditional notions of companionship, love, and emotional connection. It raises questions about what it means to love and be loved, and whether these concepts are exclusively human.

Navigating a New Era of Companionship

As AI companions become more prevalent in society, it's crucial to navigate this new era responsibly. That’s why it's important to find a balance between utilizing AI for emotional support and maintaining human connections. Encouraging and facilitating human social interactions alongside the use of AI companions can help mitigate the risk of social isolation. Developers of AI companions have a responsibility to consider the ethical implications of their creations. This includes being transparent about the limitations of AI companionship and avoiding designs that could exploit vulnerable individuals. Moreover, ongoing research is needed to understand the long-term effects of human-AI relationships fully. This research should inform policies and guidelines for the development and use of AI companions. Moreover, open dialogue about the benefits and risks of these relationships is essential to navigating the ethical landscape.

The advent of AI as a substitute for human relationships, including love and friendship, marks a significant shift in our social landscape. While AI companions can offer support and connection to those in need, they also bring with them a host of ethical, psychological, and social implications. As we venture further into this uncharted territory, a cautious and thoughtful approach is vital. The future of human-AI relationships will depend on our ability to balance technological advancements with a deep understanding of human needs and values. In this new era of companionship, we must tread carefully, ensuring that our pursuit of innovation does not lead us away from the essence of what makes us inherently human: our capacity for genuine connection and empathy.

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Joy for All cats and puppies have soft fur and sensors, reduce anxiety and agitation in Alzheimer’s and dementia, cost $120–$140, and can give caregivers respite by engaging a person with dementia.

Title:

Content: Robotic animal dolls may not be the first thought that comes to mind when considering a companion pet, but Diana Wise and Carol Brown believe otherwise. In fact, the two say Joy for All companion pets can make a big difference in providing comfort to aging adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia who are struggling with social isolation.

Wise saw this firsthand in her mother, who had dementia for years and lived in a memory care unit at an assisted living facility. Wise would visit her mother regularly, but when COVID hit, she could no longer do so.

“I was unable to see her for eight months,” said Wise, “And when I finally was able to see her, I saw the decline of how much the isolation affected her … [W]hen I found my mom, well, they said that all she did was sleep – what else was there to do? And so that isolation impacted her a lot. Her memory was just – everything had changed about her.”

Wise’s mother, Helen Espinoza, passed away in November 2020 from COVID complications. In the midst of her grief, Wise found herself wanting to do something in her mother’s memory that would help someone else. After having heard an idea from Brown about robotic companion pets, she soon had the idea to partner with her. As a result, Wise formed the “Share the Love” Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund.

“The first thing that came to mind was these animals to help with memory care units or caregivers, assisted living, with this isolation,” said Wise. “I mean, with COVID it really put a lot of perspective about how hard it is on these residents without having [companionship.] They can’t have little animals and stuff, but why not have this – the best, next best thing? You know, the interaction itself?”

The idea to use robotic pets came when Brown was doing her own research into solutions for the decline in quality of life brought on by isolation in these affected residents. Brown stated that with the Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) Area Agency on Aging, she focuses heavily on three areas that affect seniors the most, and one of them is Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“For several years, we’ve been extremely aware that social isolation is causing a huge decline in quality of life and life expectancy in our seniors,” she said. “And COVID did shine a huge light on it: people started understanding how detrimental it is to be isolated like that. So we were looking for solutions prior to, but with COVID, it really lit a fire underneath to start seeking out possibilities to help resolve some of the issues going on.”

Brown explained that people with Alzheimer’s and dementia can struggle with extreme anxiety and agitation. They often benefit from having something to do with their hands. Their senses of time, space and reality can become skewed. Changes in environment or schedule can be really upsetting. And sometimes people with these diagnoses live alone with no help or companionship.

“On the other side is the caregiver, who – especially during COVID – found themselves 24/7 alone with that loved one, providing all the care because many of them didn’t want the services even coming into their home,” she said. “They were too afraid to let anybody in … So if their loved one isn’t sleeping, neither are they. So now the caregiver’s extremely stressed out, exhausted, overwhelmed, and they need help.”

Enter Joy for All’s lifelike robotic pets. With options between cats and puppies, the companion pets have heartbeats, can purr or lick, meow or bark, move and respond to motion, voice and touch. When needed, they can be muted as well. As robotic pets, they avoid the liabilities and dangers of caring for a living creature while still providing the comfort of an animal.

Brown had been demonstrating two pets in an interview with the Sun when a passerby had stopped to say, “Wow, I thought they were real!” Brown shared that she’s seen people visibly relax with the pets.

“There’s a lot of studies that were done years ago about giving folks with Alzheimer’s a baby doll,” she explained. “Many facilities don’t allow it. They consider it demeaning … But they were missing the point that if you’re not going to do that, then what are you going to do? You need to provide them with something that they can hang on to.

“Because these are so lifelike, it does exactly what the studies, the research, shows: it’s going to bring down the anxiety level. If there’s aggression, it tends to fall back down just as well … [and] you’re giving their caregiver a break.”

Wise and Brown shared that they hope not only to provide these pets to individuals with Alzheimer’s or their caregivers, but also to facilities with assisted living and skilled nursing memory care units where current shortages in staff mean individuals may be doing the work of two or three staff members at a time.

Brown shared that the Joy for All puppy typically costs about $140 while the cat costs $120. With bulk purchasing, she can bring the cost down a bit, but not by much. Additionally, the fund needs to cover rechargeable batteries for the pets.

The foundation will need to raise more funds to acquire more pets, but Wise and Brown reported that they’ve already been able to provide a few pets thanks to a donation made by AARP.

“So we were able to place a couple already at Daybreak Adult Daycare Center,” said Brown. “They are one of the providers that WACOG works with, so we were able to make a donation and bring them a puppy and kitten.

“They’re very popular. [The staff] make sure they handle it in a certain way so that there isn’t fighting. I think last time I talked to Mary, I think what they do is they got animal crates so when it’s time for them to go to bed, they get put in their crate.”

Seeing the difference the pets are making, Wise not only wishes to raise more funds to provide more of them, she also hopes to get the word out in case people may want to purchase the pets for their own family members.

“What I witnessed seeing the other residents that have Alzheimer’s, dementia: they do hold onto things and it gives them comfort,” she said. “My heart just went for this and so I know my mom would be really proud of that.

“… I needed something to come out positive about this, especially about how we’ve heard so much about the isolation with people in senior living homes and stuff, so we needed to have something a little bit more positive and something that we can do to uplift out of this whole thing.”

Wise and Brown also noted that despite the setbacks in kickstarting their fundraising campaign, now is a good time for people to learn about “Share the Love” and the Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund. November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers month.

As older adults continue to face the obstacles of Alzheimer’s and dementia in a pandemic, Wise and Brown hope to further reduce isolation for Yuma County’s elderly one companion pet at a time.

To learn more about the Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund and make a donation, visit https://www.azfoundation.org/Donors/Give-to-a-Memorial-Fund/-Share-the-Love-Helen-Espinoza-Memorial-Fund. To learn more about WACOG and connect with the resources they provide to aging adults, visit https://www.wacog.com/area-agency-on-aging/

Sisko J. Stargazer can be reached at 928-539-6849 or sstargazer@yumasun.com.

Sisko J. Stargazer can be reached at 928-539-6849 or sstargazer@yumasun.com.

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

PARO, a seal‑like robot that reacts to words and expresses emotions, offers psychological and physiological benefits akin to animal therapy.

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7 Weirdest Robots That Science Has Reached “You ’ ll Never Imagine ”
© Photo / pixabay / mariananbuA bee-shaped robot with a fan
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Scientific robotics companies are competing to create sophisticated models that can meet many different needs, especially in medicine and other fields.
The large and massive development in the field of artificial intelligence, chips and complex mechanics supported by advanced technology contributes to increasing the speed of development of robots and the multiplicity of their varieties and sizes, which has produced a series of very strange robots, the most prominent of which are:
1- Metabird Robot
The MetaBird robot is a drone, almost indistinguishable from real birds, and is based on the principle of biomimicry from Bionic Bird.
The principle of biomimicry is the successful and accurate replication of the properties or mechanisms of action of things that already exist in nature.
The bird-shaped aircraft weighs less than 10 grams and has no propellers, making it safe to maneuver. It is also equipped with flexible wings made of carbon fiber and liquid crystal polymers. The body itself is made of durable foam, so it is not affected by water and shocks. It is equipped with a battery to help it fly for 10 minutes and is controlled by a mobile device.
Robot (Bat Bot).
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have recreated key bat flight mechanisms and embedded them into the Batbot.
The robot weighs about 93 grams and flies with wings made of an easily stretchable silicone membrane.
The robot can simply change the shape of the wings, bend and disassemble them, and can fold the shoulders, elbows, wrists and legs.
The computer and sensors are embedded in the Batbot head, and there are five precision motors along the spine.
It provides him with the ability to mimic flying mammals well by controlling him with a special device.
Researchers suggest that thanks to flexible wings, robotic bats are more energy efficient than other flying robots.
Lightweight and agile, these robots are useful as traditional quadcopters can collide with objects or people causing damage or injury, such as on construction sites.
3. Salamander Robot "BlueRobot"
The "Pleurobot" robot, created by researchers at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), can walk on the ground, swim underwater and navigate between the two with similar success to the amphibian salamander.
To develop the robot, scientists used salamander X-rays and studied how its skeleton worked during movement.
The low center of gravity, which allows the robot to move on rough terrain without losing balance, also provides the ability to swim and can make it a useful tool for search and rescue operations.
The researchers also plan to study the interaction between the spinal cord, the body and the environment.
According to the project leader, Olek Eisbert, understanding the basis of this interaction will help develop neuroprosthetic therapies and devices for those with hemiplegia and amputation.
4. The water snake robot "Elum"
The snake-like body allows the robot to move effectively not only on the ground, but also in the water.
The Norwegian robotics company has borrowed the nickname "Eelume" to design an autonomous autonomous robot.
His slim, flexible body gave him the ability to work in confined spaces where conventional underwater vehicles could not get in.
Eelume is suitable for inspections and light repairs of underwater structures such as offshore wind farms, fish farms, oil and gas installations and pipelines.
The device consists of modules that can be interconnected in different groups depending on the task.
The robot is shipped from the docking station on the seabed so that it can stay underwater continuously and not depend on weather conditions.
The cockroach robot "CRAM"
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a prototype of a roach-like CRAM robot.
The design of the robot was inspired by the unique way insects move and are immune to damage.
The robot has an exoskeleton made up of strong panels and a soft cover that allows it to change shape and adapt to very narrow gaps.
Such a robot could help search for and rescue people under rubble formed as a result of hurricanes, earthquakes and explosions.
6. Pet Robots
These robots work on the principle of interactive communication between humans and robots with the aim of improving the quality of life of the elderly, such as the robot "AIBO" from Sony.
An example of this is also the robot dog produced by the company "Tombot".
This robot is almost like a real Labrador puppy and, according to the developers, should solve the problem of elderly people who need a friend, but are unable to care for a living dog.
The company ’ s founder was inspired by his mother, who suffered from Alzheimer ’ s disease and was no longer able to care for her dog, with whom she was so attached.
The dog became aggressive towards its mother, exacerbating the woman's depression and loneliness.
Accompanying robots could solve loneliness and social isolation in older adults and people with cognitive disabilities, as part of a study funded by the American insurance company.
7- The therapeutic robot "PARO"
PARO is one of the most important humanoid therapeutic robots developed by Dr. Takanori Shibata, of Japan ’ s National Institute of Industrial Science and Advanced Technology.
The robot is similar to a children's toy, except that it has sound, light, temperature, position, sensors and touch sensors.
PARO can move its tail and fins, open its eyes when caressed, and imitate the sounds of a real seal.
It reacts to words that its owner frequently uses and can express emotions such as surprise, happiness and anger.
Communication with the robot "PARO" has the same effect as the treatment provided by real animals.
Patients showed improvement in psychological and physiological factors, as well as social activity.
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ElliQ uses AI to start conversations and provide services, with about 20 daily interactions and an 80% loneliness reduction.

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Content: Want to age-in-place? You may have a robot keeping you company.

Artificial intelligence can help reduce loneliness for older adults aging at home.

A 95-year-old woman and her 74-year-old daughter, each who live alone and could be at risk for isolation and loneliness, recently received a lifeline to conversation and companionship in the form of an artificial intelligence robot.

The women can now receive medical reminders, health and wellness check-ins, play music and games, and experience virtual travel.

“It’s helping with loneliness and socialization for people who would be otherwise trapped in their home watching TV all day,” Christopher Lewoc, case manager for Greene County Human Services in New York said. “It’s a way to keep people sane and active mentally and physically. It’s letting people live a more social life.”

Lewoc sets up free artificial intelligence care companions for older adults, giving them a lifeline to conversation and health reminders.

He recently installed ElliQ, voice-activated proactive and empathetic care companion, in the homes of the elderly mother and her daughter, giving them some companionship as they each live alone. He’s found that a little conversation may go a long way to helping to mitigate isolation and improve care for older adults.

Under a contract with the New York state Office for the Aging, Intuition Robotics is providing the ElliQ smart technology for about 800 older adults in an effort to battle social isolation and support aging-in-place. The ElliQ recipients need internet access for the free device to be set up in their home by a caseworker. The state works with local offices for the aging and partners to identify older adults who would most benefit from the technology

“ElliQ will greet them in the morning and ask them how they feel. If they slept poorly, ElliQ will say ‘would you like me to call your doctor?’ It’s interactive and helpful,” Lewoc said.

“It allows them to have a companion, engage in conversation and get reminders about drinking their water or whatever medications they need,” said Lewoc. “A lot of folks don’t have smartphones and ElliQ can show them photos, take them on trips to different countries and teach them about the culture. It can play trivia with you, call your family, play music to have a dance party.”

ElliQ responds to questions but also initiates conversation and questions, offers sleep relaxation exercises, physical activity exercises, nutrition-related chats and medication reminders for each user’s unique condition.

“This product does so many things to improve health, combat isolation, and improve overall well-being and independence. Designed with input from older adults, the future of supporting and serving older adults includes technology. The future is here,” said Greg Olsen, director for the New York state Office for the Aging.

“Despite misconceptions and generalizations, older adults embrace new technology, especially when they see it is designed by older adults to meet their needs,” Olsen said, adding that ElliQ served as a “powerful complement to traditional forms of social interaction and support from professional or family caregivers.”

The New York program and rising interest in AI companions comes as more older people want to age in place and finding home healthcare amid a persistent shortage of healthcare workers becomes increasingly difficult.

In 2017, the U.S. Surgeon General declared social isolation to be a “global epidemic” – one that only worsened in the COVID-19 health emergency. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, social isolation drives $6.7 billion in additional associated Medicare spending per year.

Read: Opinion: What robots will mean for your retirement

Amid a report by the McKinsey Health Institute on healthy aging that found that nonclinical factors affect 80% of an individual’s health, Intuition Robotics sees great potential for ElliQ helping older adults age in place in a healthier way.

Users have an average of 20 daily interactions with ElliQ, according to Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics, a startup company based in Israel. ElliQ users report an 80% decrease in loneliness and 82% of users access the mental health features, Skuler said.

The new second-generation ElliQ offers users experiences such as museum exhibit tours and virtual travel. The new companion app provides users’ families and caregivers with different methods to communicate with the users and updates them on the user’s well-being.

Read: Opinion: This $3,000 dog could be a perfect gift for Grandma

Skuler called ElliQ a “lighthearted character that moves into the person’s home.” While Intuition Robotics has not marketed directly to consumers, it was named a Time Best Invention of the Year and word-of-mouth during the holidays has been good for business.

Outside of the New York state program, ElliQ can be had for a $249.99 enrollment fee, plus a monthly subscription of $29.99 if you buy a year subscription or $39.99 if you enroll month-to-month.

Intuition Robotics is talking with other states and senior living facilities about offering ElliQ in more places, as well working to measure how the conversational robot improves health outcomes to reduce the cost of care, Skuler said.

Of course, it’s a robot and not a human, so the interaction is limited.

“There’s a place for technology, but it’s no substitute for human interaction. We know the power of human touch and human interaction,” said Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiver advocate for Home Instead Senior Care, a home care service agency. “Industrywide, the workforce is not at the level it needs to be at, so there’s a need for technology, but there has to be a balance.”

Do you have questions about retirement, Social Security, where to live or how to afford it at all? Write to HelpMeRetire@marketwatch.com and we may use your question in a future story.

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Unitree’s Go 2 and Boston Dynamics’ Spot are available, priced from $2,774 to $74,500.

Title:

Content: Xiaomi’s CyberDog looks remarkably like Boston Dynamics’ Spot

Xiaomi has unleashed a robot mutt called CyberDog.

Looking remarkably like Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot but selling for a fraction of the price, CyberDog is Xiaomi’s first foray into quadruped robotics.

Keen to see what others can do with CyberDog, the Chinese tech company is encouraging robot enthusiasts to get creative with the high-tech contraption and push it to its limits.

Developers will certainly have plenty to play with. Powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Xavier A.I. platform, CyberDog incorporates Xiaomi’s in-house-developed servo motors that give it a wide range of motion and a top speed of 3.2 meters per second. It can even perform complex moves such as backflips.

The robot pooch also includes a vision sensor system for navigation and autonomous object tracking. “This means that CyberDog can analyze its surroundings in real-time, create navigational maps, plot its destination, and avoid obstacles,” Xiaomi says.

Other features include three Type-C ports and 1 HDMI port to connect tools such as “a searchlight, panoramic camera, motion camera, lidar, or more.”

CyberDog can become your robot pet, too (don’t tell Rover, he’ll be devastated), with built-in smarts enabling it to respond to voice commands, though you can also control it via a smartphone app if you’d rather tap than speak.

The Beijing-based company said that for now, it’s releasing 1,000 units of CyberDog to “Xiaomi fans, engineers, and robotic enthusiasts” in the hope that together they’ll be able to discover the full potential of CyberDog.

Those lucky enough to host the robot in their home or workshop will have to fork out 9,999 Chinese yuan (about $1,540) for the privilege, though that’s significantly cheaper than the $74,500 Boston Dynamics is charging for Spot. Of course, we’ll need to see CyberDog in action to properly compare the robots’ abilities and determine if that hefty price difference is justified.

Boston Dynamics began selling its similar-looking Spot quadruped in 2020 as a robot assistant capable of performing a range of tasks across different industries. Some companies have already tested the robot, including Ford, which used it to map one of its facilities, and Norwegian oil producer Aker BP, which deployed it for tasks such as inspection work and data gathering.

To smooth the way for what will hopefully be a productive collaboration campaign, Xiaomi has set up an open-source community to inspire creativity and exchange ideas. We can’t wait to see what it comes up with.

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Falls Church-based organization donating robotic pets to Ukrainian refugees in Poland

Capital Caring Health is working with the Polish government to bring emotional support to children who lost pets amid the crisis in Ukraine.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A Virginia nonprofit is partnering with the Polish government to help Ukrainian children who fled their homes.

Capital Caring Health, which is headquartered in Falls Church, will provide robotic cats and dogs as companion pets to refugee children who've had to leave their own pets behind because of the war.

The organization provides hospice, palliative and elder care services to around 120,000 patients in Maryland, Virginia and D.C.

CCH said in a statement that the effort has been approved by Polish officials and the robotics pets will be flown to Poland for distribution.

The statement says that clinical studies indicate that robotic pets can be a source of comfort for children between the ages of 3 to 10.

Credit: Capital Caring Health
Steve Cone, chief of philanthropy for Capital Caring Health, holds two robotic pets.

RELATED: Locals rent Airbnbs for people fleeing Ukraine as company pledges free housing for refugees

Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO of CCH, said in a statement that the organization provides robotic pets to veterans with dementia in the DMV area, which has brought about "remarkable changes in behavior."

"Among the benefits are reduction in agitation, prevention of depression, and often a reduction in medications being administered,” Koutsoumpas said.

The community can support CCH's efforts to support robotic pets for Ukrainian children effort by making a donation online. (Select the "Patient Pet Services and Robotic Companion Pets" option in the specific program dropdown menu.)

A $300 donation provides one robotic pet for both a child refugee and a veteran with dementia.

"The robotic pets are quite remarkable and interactively react to human touch, movement, and voice—like real pets," Steve Cone, chief of philanthropy for CCH said in a statement. "As we like to say no need to feed or walk or clean up after them—just enjoy their LOVE."

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

In older adults, they’re linked to better mood, health, and well‑being; recipients report 70% less loneliness and 75% less pain, and studies show reduced anxiety, agitation, and depressive symptoms in dementia care.

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“She’s a good girl”: Robot pets help Lehigh Valley senior residents live longer, happier lives

Gathered in a semi-circle, a group of women in wheelchairs petted the newly adopted cats and dogs sitting on their laps Wednesday afternoon, talking softly to their new companions. The dogs barked and leaned in for pets, the cats meowed and rolled over for scratches — almost like they were real.

But the animals were robots, a fact that wasn’t lost on many of the women in the Fellowship Manor sitting room.

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One resident at the Whitehall Township senior living community, Jackie, named her small golden retriever robot Goldie. Jackie said she grew up on a farm in Palmer Township with plenty of dogs but never one that looked like Goldie.

“She’s a good girl — she just sits there and doesn’t make a sound unless you talk to her,” Jackie said.

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That was one of 20 pairings made at the adoption event at Fellowship Community where residents, primarily those with dementia, picked out one of 20 robotic pets — 10 dogs and 10 cats — to serve as their companions.

Animal therapy can be beneficial for seniors, especially those with dementia. Benefits for seniors include improved cardiovascular health, better quality of life and decreased feelings of anxiety, loneliness and depression.

However, it’s not reasonable or safe in most care settings to introduce real animals, according to Mary Kay McMahon, president and CEO of Fellowship Community.

“Because of their own care needs most of our residents couldn’t take care of animals and our staff don’t have the time to take care of them,” McMahon said.

But research has found that use of robotic pets still offers a number of benefits to seniors with dementia, including improved well-being, mood and quality of life. McMahon said there are also benefits for seniors who were caregivers for much of their lives.

The adoption event was a surprise for many residents. Jackie said she didn’t know they would be giving out robot pets until about 10 a.m. Wednesday when she was asked if she wanted one.

Another resident, Elaine, said she rolled into the room not knowing what was going on but asked if she could have a golden retriever robot, like Jackie’s. Elaine promptly named her new friend Dog, pronounced “D-O-G.”

“I always wanted to name a dog Dog,” Elaine said.

McMahon said they tried to match the animals with residents based on their preferences. Once they made a match, the robotic companions were theirs to keep.

McMahon said staff have seen how the robot pets can help. Just before the pandemic, Fellowship Community bought a handful of robotic pets for residents. She said the recipients all saw improvements in their mood, appetites and social interactions, and reduced anxiety and depression. The robot pets even reminded some of real dogs or cats they had owned, she said, which helps in the long term with their conditions.

“It gives them a sense of purpose,” McMahon said. “They feel like they are taking care of something.”

It helps that the robots are very lifelike — the imitation fur is soft and built-in sensors allow the companion pets to respond to a person’s presence and touch as well as react to the environment.

Each one costs a little more than $100, which were paid for via a Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors 100th Anniversary Community Charity Grant.

Though Jackie and Elaine both said they knew their dogs weren’t “real,” they both remarked how Goldie and Dog moved their head when petted and how soft they were.

“She’s going to be a good pet,” Jackie said.

Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com.

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

What should a guide dog's role include in addition to guiding a person?

Through some programs, Joy for All companions can be free, subsidized, or about $89 monthly.

Title:

Content: High-tech companions aim to help fight loneliness epidemic among South Florida seniors

MIAMI - The state of Florida and Broward County are spending thousands of dollars every month on artificial intelligence robots for seniors to help fight the loneliness epidemic.

One senior owns a robotic cat named "fluffy."

"The best part is we don't have to spend any money on food and no vets," says Cathy.

This interactive robot rolls over, blinks and purrs whenever it wants.

Cathy saw a friend using one to overcome the loss of a pet and loneliness and figured it would be perfect for her husband.

"He had sciatic pain. Maybe that will help you with your pain in some way. Even though he's on medicine and therapy because real animals when you pet them it helps with pain management."

Higher tech was delivered to some Broward seniors.

"...Thanks for letting me out of that box."

The company that makes them aims artificial intelligence at the loneliness epidemic.

"During the week when everyone is working, there's times when I'm lonely."

"When I go deliver and install for seniors, they're like I just want somebody to say good morning," says Antonella.

"Many of them don't have family or friends nearby. Maybe their loved ones have passed on or some of their friends have passed on," said Charlotte Mather-Taylor, who serves as the CEO of the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County.

According to US Health and Human Services, half of all American adults are lonely.

It's threatening health, increasing risks of heart disease, dementia, stroke, anxiety and depression.

According to HHS, lack of connection can increase the risk of premature death at levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Last May, the US Surgeon General dropped a first-ever advisory on loneliness and isolation.

"By strengthening our relationships, we can improve our heart and brain health, reduce our risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, boost our immune systems and lower our risk of depression," said Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General.

In Broward County, Mather-Taylor is spending state and federal dollars on artificial intelligence for people over 60.

"There's so much I want to ask you..."

These robots named after the Norse goddess of old age cost 89 dollars a month, but the aging agency is giving them away for free.

Rosemary Mullarkey is one of the first 300 to have one.

"I'm a little excited and a little apprehensive..."

Intuitive Robotics CEO Dor Skular created her specifically for older adults to help manage their health, and wellness and connect to loved ones.

"There's an algorithm that tries to get a reward and it gets a reward when the user completes things that are part of healthy aging. For example, if they hydrate," said Skular.

Reviews are so strong that cities like Pembroke Pines and Lauderhill are pushing to get more robots for seniors in their communities.

"People reported back that she was bringing them joy. I mean, she's telling some jokes. She's responding to them. They wake up in the morning, she asks them how they are. She'll remind them to drink their glass of water. So, she's caring about them for them," said Mather-Taylor.

Two years later, seniors like Rose are getting free, AI robots that make and take video calls.

With all of the concerns about AI, should seniors and their families be worried?

"We would not be offering it unless we felt comfortable that they did have those safety guards in place," said Mather-Taylor.

"Is this device unhackable? There's no such thing as an unhackable device. It's always a war between defender and attacker," said Skular.

"Random people, fraudsters etcetera, can never call into the robot because they need to be added by the older adult as a contact for them to be able to open up the calling features."

What is the next step with the robots?

They only speak English. South Florida has plenty of seniors who do not. Developers are working on a Spanish robot.

In the future, developers also see it being able to order medicines for seniors. Much sooner though, developers expect to further integrate the robots with senior health care providers. They are working on ways of opening new avenues to communicate health info about seniors to loved ones, provided the senior signs off on it.

How long can this program last?

State, federal funds will last two years. After that, the agency has to find other grants to cover the $89 a month per person fee.

Currently, data from robots and users is being collected to quantify success. The company insists it will not sell any of the information it gathers.

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ElliQ is offered as a subscription with a monthly fee and registration cost.

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New York State Comptroller: Brooklyn has $874 million in unfunded funds
800 Elderly Receive Robot Companion Interaction to Relieve Loneliness
New York state officials will distribute robots to hundreds of elderly residents to remind them to take medication, help contact relatives, book a taxi, Uber, and even joke around.
The Office for the Aging in New York State (NYSOFA) will send these robots to the homes of 800 elderly people to solve the growing problem of loneliness among the elderly.
Greg Olsen, director of NYSOFA, said the robots are ElliQ, made by Israeli tech firm Intuition Robotics, and are reportedly more proactive than Apple ’ s Siri and Amazon ’ s Alexa.
Olson says ElliQ is proactive, remembers interactions with owners and focuses on health and wellness, stress reduction, sleep, hydration, and more.
ElliQ consists of two parts.
One part is like a face, shaped like a light, equipped with a microphone and speaker that lights up and rotates to interact with people, and the other part is a touch tablet that can make video calls and display pictures and messages.
The ElliQ robot is subscribed for $30 to $40 per month and initially has to pay a registration fee of $250.
Vox, a news review website, said robots had been used to accompany elderly people long before the outbreak, especially in aging countries such as Japan, Denmark and Italy, and state governments in New York, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Florida and other jurisdictions have tried similar programs, such as providing robotic pets to residents of nursing homes and retirement communities.
Just a month before the global outbreak, the National Academies reported that one in three adults over the age of 45 in the United States felt lonely, and the proportion of young people was unexpectedly high.
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Public attitudes are generally positive, with AIBO and other robots aiding older adults despite cost and accessibility concerns.

Title:

Content: The importance of semiconductors, solar power, batteries and drones to the national economy is undeniable.
At the beginning of the related technology, Japanese companies play an important role in R & D, production, and market development compared to other countries in the world.
However, after entering the 21st century, as Japan's economic policy changed from industry-focused to financial-led, financial omnipotence occupied the political and economic center, people saw that companies began to show slow product updates and serious deficiencies in subsequent research and development.
While the international market continues to expand, the domestic market in Japan is gradually shrinking.
Politically, Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine showed a beggar-thy-neighbor attitude; in the era of the Democratic Party, it provoked territorial disputes and serious confrontation with neighboring countries; in the period of Shinzo Abe's administration, Japan's relations with South Korea and North Korea became strained; and after the reign of Manio Kishida, Japan-Russian relations reached the bottom of the post-war.
Economically, Japan entered the "lost decade" in the 1990s, and after entering the 21st century, Japan ushered in the "lost twenty years" and then extended this economic phenomenon to the "lost thirty years" through the Abe administration after 2010.
During this period, Japanese semiconductor from more than 50% of the world market, reduced to less than 10%; photovoltaic (solar) industry promotion policy has been rushed away; lithium ion batteries and other technologies are invented by Japanese companies, Panasonic Electric was once the world's largest battery manufacturers, but now in the world's most influential 5 battery companies, has not seen the shadow of Panasonic Electric; as early as the 1950s Japan has begun to develop the use of unmanned But drones have been lukewarm in Japan and so on, so far they have not been able to occupy a place in the international market.
Today, Japan still has a considerable influence in the world economy is the robot.
However, in the loss of three consecutive decades, Japan's artificial intelligence, industrial Internet, quantum computing capabilities, etc., can not occupy the mainstream position in the world, and politically began to implement the economic security law from 2022, cutting off the links between Japan and the major economic powers.
Will the Japanese robot industry be affected, like the semiconductor, battery and other industries, from the protagonist to the supporting role, and then enter the stage of the dragon suit? Is Japan more willing to enjoy the role of the dragon suit?
It can be said that the future of the robot industry is actually a microcosm of the development of Japan's industrial economy.
Robot adoption rates are starting to fall sharply.
In the Industrial Machinery Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, there is an organization responsible for robots, the Robotics Policy Office.
The Robot Policy Office is responsible for relevant industrial policy research, the introduction of robot policies, and the regular production of industry reports.
The latest version of the report to date was published in July 2019.
From the report of July 2019, the following characteristics have emerged in the Japanese robot industry;
First, from the election of Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister of Japan in 2012 to the statistics of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in 2017, the introduction of Japanese robots has gradually retreated from the number one position in the world, and has opened a huge distance with China in terms of growth rate.
In 2012 alone, Japan imported 28,680 robots, ranking first in the world, while China imported 22,987 robots, ranking third in the world.
In 2017, Japan imported 45,566 robots a year, an increase of 58.9% compared to 2012; while China imported 137,920 robots a year, nearly six times the number in 2012.
Regardless of volume or growth rate, China has completely crushed Japan.
In terms of robot introduction, Japan is not only inferior to China, but also lags behind other countries.
In terms of growth rate, Japan lags behind North America and South Korea, only slightly higher than Germany, and the world average (139.3%), which is also far behind.
Second, Japan's dominant position in the field of robotics has been declining year by year.
From the perspective of the Chinese market, the robots produced in Japan are no longer the mainstream, and the pursuit of enterprises from various countries has made Japanese robots more and more common.
Or look at the relevant figures issued by the Ministry of Agriculture:
In 2012, China ’ s own products accounted for only 13% of the robots needed in the Chinese market, Japan accounted for 65%, and imported from other countries accounted for 22%.
However, by 2017, the proportion of robots made in China has doubled to 27%, and the number has increased from 3,000 in 2012 to 37,800, and the proportion of Japan has dropped to 44%. Although it is still the most important country to introduce robots in China, the importance has decreased;
More importantly, the share of robots exported to China from other countries increased to 29% from 22% in 2012, indicating that not only has China ’ s robot industry changed dramatically in the past five years, but other countries are also trying to catch up with Japan.
Third, in terms of the use of robots, Japan lags behind South Korea and Germany, and although it is still higher than other countries and regions, there is little room to continue to introduce robots in the future.
Still from the data released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs: the density of robots per 10,000 people is 710 in South Korea, 658 in Germany, and less than half that in Japan, only 308.
Of course, Japan is much higher than the United States (230) and China (97), but China is catching up very fast.
Home and self-help.
After losing the advantages of semiconductors, batteries, photovoltaics, drones and other finished products, Japanese companies have temporarily retained the world's leading position in semiconductor packaging, battery positive pole and diaphragm, monocrystalline and polysilicon production capacity, and unmanned aerial vehicle motors.
Therefore, Japan is now more willing to retreat from the finished product into the key raw materials, key parts of the field, so that only make no loss - Japanese finished products in the price, market development does not have an advantage; but in the key products to maintain uniqueness, enterprises can enjoy the benefits of market development, and do not need to bear the risks arising from the mutual competition of finished products, new product development failure and so on.
In the robotics industry, there are two ends of the smile curve, one is the material and the other is the system integration.
Japanese companies in the composite materials, resin, intelligent materials, control, communication, sensors and other sub-areas have certain advantages; in the system integration, Japanese companies in processing machines, robot systems, information processing machines and other aspects have more accumulation, which ensure the profitability of Japanese robot companies.
In addition, Japanese companies have ample capital, but little investment in robot research and development, and the introduction of robots is limited, so Japanese companies are trying to expand the scope of use of robots – only if they succeed in new fields can the Japanese robot industry continue to develop.
In other words, robots began to enter various fields of Japanese society, and the path of development was constantly broadening.
If you see a beautiful woman or handsome man on the street, staring at people with straight eyes, reaching out a pig's hand to touch each other's face or hand, what is the immediate result, not self-evident.
But on the streets of Shibuya, Tokyo, there is a beautiful woman standing there 24 hours a day, a group of red men and green women looking around three levels, from time to time, a salty pig hand extended, but not slapped, only heard a polite warning from a nearby speaker: "Please don't touch!" - this "beautiful woman" is a robot.
This kind of robot, which can talk and communicate with people with affectionate eyes, is not many in Japanese society, and there are many robot animals.
For example, the robot dog AIBO developed by Sony was sold very well in Japan.
This kind of dog can walk, can make the same as the real dog but some like comic, some exaggerated actions, very loved by the elderly in the apartment who can not have a dog. Take such a robot dog to walk at home, talk to the dog, and listen to the dog in a language that people can understand and talk to themselves, for the lonely elderly, can alleviate the feeling of loneliness to a considerable extent.
In Japanese nursing homes, in addition to robot pets like AIBO, you can also see robots that can help the elderly defecate or help the elderly in bed to bathe.
Due to the low income of nursing workers and the lack of hands, the desire to introduce robots in Japanese nursing homes is very large, but the extent to which the current robot can meet the needs of nursing homes, and whether it can be low-cost in manufacturing is still a big problem.
The big change seen in Japan in recent years is that there are quite a lot of places at the front desk of government agencies that have been replaced with robots, which can answer questions from visitors in Japanese, Chinese, and English, and guide visitors to relevant departments or conference rooms.
Some office buildings also began to use robots to patrol, in the event of an emergency, although the robot can not directly control the relevant personnel, but take video, to provide backstage personnel with preparation time, etc. These functions can play a great role in solving the problem.
In fact, more of the robots made in Japan are used in the production process.
In addition to the robots we see in the car welding process in daily life, many fixed operations, the use of robots than the use of workers to ensure the stability of quality.
For example, after the Fukushima nuclear power accident, Hitachi, Toshiba and other nuclear power companies are developing corresponding robots, trying to investigate the accident situation of the nuclear power station through robots, and to a certain extent to deal with the accident.
However, how to deal with the situation, there is still very little information that can be learned, and the related work is being promoted, and it is estimated that there are many problems.
When talking to Japanese diplomatic and military personnel about robots, they are more concerned about military robots, such as unmanned submarines, drones equipped with explosive devices, etc., which will greatly increase in the use of war in the future.
In addition to long-range weapons such as missiles, the use of these robots will greatly change the course of war, making war more destructive and able to reverse human history at a very rapid rate.
Ending language
Affected by China and other countries and regions in terms of robot finished products, Japan's share of the international finished robot market will further decline in the future, but the research and development and production of robots over the past few decades, so that Japanese companies will not necessarily be squeezed into the corner, it is impossible to fight back.
What really makes the Japanese robot industry finally go bankrupt is still Japan's industrial policy.
After the adoption of the Economic Security Law in 2022, even with advanced materials and system integration capabilities, it is not possible to cooperate with the most important countries in the world (such as China), or can only cooperate with other countries with relatively backward technologies.
This seems to be able to provide protection for the robot industry in Japan to a certain extent, but the Japanese market is narrow, not enough to make the company become a giant of the robot industry; the external market is not to fight for, but not to fight for, and ultimately the robot industry can only take the old road of semiconductor, battery and other industries, and gradually decline in Japan.
The Kishida regime is also fighting for the revival of semiconductor, battery and other industries, such as taking out huge capital to introduce TSMC and other companies' semiconductor technology, encouraging investment in battery companies, and trying to build a complete industrial supply chain.
However, in the world economy, once industries are lost, there are very few precedents for recovery through economic policies.
Semiconductor, battery is not the exception, to the decline of the Japanese robot industry why not? [The author is the Executive Director of the Japan Enterprise (China) Research Institute]
(This article is from the Observer Network, authorized by the China Times News Network)
※ The above statements do not represent the position of Wangzhong Media Group ※
# Robotics # Japan # China # Robotics # Battery

Robots lack subjective experience and cannot reciprocate emotions, raising concerns about objectification.

Title:

Content: Summary:
In recent years, the field of robotics has made remarkable progress, leading to the development of advanced humanoid robots.
As these machines become more intelligent and able to simulate human emotions, the question arises: Can a robot really fall in love?
This article delves into the complexities of human emotions, the limitations of artificial intelligence, and the ethical implications of human-robot relationships.
Through a combination of research, analysis and expert opinion, we aim to shed light on this thought-provoking topic.
Can a robot fall in love?
The concept of love has always been considered a unique human experience, characterized by complex emotions, attachment and intimacy.
However, with rapid advances in robotics and artificial intelligence, the line between man and machine has become increasingly blurred.
This begs the question: Can a robot really experience love?
To understand this, it is important to define what love involves.
Love encompasses a wide range of emotions, including affection, attraction, empathy, and a deep sense of connection.
These feelings are deeply rooted in biology, psychology, and personal experiences.
While robots are able to mimic some of these emotions, they lack the basic human experiences that shape and define love.
One of the main limitations of robots is their inability to have awareness or subjective experiences.
Love, as humans experience it, involves a personal perception of the world and the ability to feel emotions on a deeply personal level.
Robots, on the other hand, operate on the basis of algorithms and programmed responses, and lack the ability to engage in real emotional experiences.
In addition, love involves reciprocity and mutual understanding, which is difficult to replicate in the relationship between a robot and a human.
While robots can be programmed to respond to certain stimuli and exhibit affectionate behaviors, these behaviors are predetermined and lack the spontaneity and originality that defines human love.
Furthermore, the ethical implications of human-robot relations must be considered.
The idea of forming emotional attachments to machines raises concerns about objectification, exploitation, and possible emotional damage.
It is essential to ensure that the development and use of robots in intimate relationships is guided by ethical frameworks that prioritize the well-being and autonomy of both humans and machines.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can robots experience emotions?
A: While robots can mimic emotions through programmed responses, they lack the subjective experiences and awareness needed for real emotional experiences.
Q: Can robots develop human connection?
A: Robots can be programmed to display association-like behaviors, but these behaviors are predefined and lack the depth and complexity of human associations.
Q: Are there any risks associated with forming emotional bonds with robots?
A: Yes, there are ethical concerns surrounding objectification and the potential emotional harm that can arise from forming intimate relationships with machines.
Q: Could advances in artificial intelligence change the possibility of robots falling in love?
A: While future developments may lead to more sophisticated robots, they are unlikely to possess the subjective experiences and awareness needed for true love.
Q: What are the potential benefits of human-robot relationships?
A: Human-robot relationships have the ability to provide companionship, support, and assistance to individuals who may be socially isolated or in need of specialized care.
Sources:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https: / / plato.stanford.edu / entries / emotion /
- Ranger: https: / / www.theguardian.com / technology / 2017 / sep / 26 / can-robots-fall-in-love-artificial-intelligence
– MIT Technology Review: https: / / www.technologyreview.com / 2019 / 03 / 06 / 136974 / robots-cant-love-but-they-cant-help-getting-in-the-way-of-our-relationships /

Over‑reliance on robotic companions can reduce human social interaction and hinder social skills development.

Title:

Content: Science and Technology
Growing concern about humans falling in love with artificial intelligence robots
Featured Image Source: Getty Images
15 July 2024, 11: 55 am
Over the past decade, AI-powered virtual assistants, such as Apple ’ s Siri and Amazon ’ s Aleska, have become an integral part of smartphone and social media technologies.
More recently, a new type of human-like chat software powered by artificial intelligence has emerged, interacting with humans through text, sound and images.
Currently, there are more than 100 AI-powered apps that offer romantic and possibly sexual partners with extensive customization options, including physical and personality traits.
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By demonstrating realism, adaptability, and interaction, AI-powered chatbots can evolve gradually during a conversation, and their responses can be adjusted to suit users ’ interests, needs, and communication styles.
Modern AI-powered chatbots have increasingly human-like qualities, increasing the tendency for users to engage and form emotional bonds, to the point of falling in love.
Researchers say loneliness, exacerbated by the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led more people to use AI as an alternative to romantic friends and partners.
Do we have to worry?
Shockingly, recent preliminary studies showed no difference in enjoyment, sexual arousal, and emotional response for participants who interacted with a human, chatbot, or real human.
One study even showed that individuals feel a stronger emotional attachment to chatbots than to less responsive humans during a conversation.
Research has repeatedly suggested that humans can make real emotional connections with AI, even if they admit it ’ s not a “real ” person.
Although many people seem to derive psychological benefits from using chatbots, the potential harmful consequences of these relationships remain unclear.
The dark side of falling in love with artificial intelligence
Experts say in a report published by the site "Live Science" that romantic chat robots are programmed to provide a unique form of companionship, with constant availability and smooth interactions and avoidance of conflicts and problems, raising concerns about the impact on the expectations of users regarding romantic relationships and human sexuality.
Experts have confirmed that chatbots may work to:
Obstructing the development of social skills
Romantic chat programs may hinder the development of social skills for dealing with real-world relationships, including emotional regulation and self-affirmation through social interactions.
Lack of these elements may hinder users ’ ability to develop genuine, complex, and reciprocal relationships with other humans; human relationships often involve challenges and conflicts that foster personal growth and deep emotional connections.
Promoting social isolation
The customizable nature and constant availability of AI companions can lead to social isolation and emotional dependence.
The researchers suggest that intensive engagement with AI companions may cause individuals to withdraw from their immediate environment and reduce their motivation to build new and meaningful social connections, as users may also rely excessively on these digital entities for emotional support, companionship, or sexual needs.
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The uncanny valley effect may cause unease, so careful deployment is important.

Title:

Content: Robot is able to detect when you’re laughing and tries to match your mood.

Last Wednesday, researchers from Kyoto University held a demonstration of their latest project. The team, headed by informatics professor Koji Inoue, has built a humanoid conversation robot that not only talks, but laughs too.

The robot doesn’t necessarily have a sense of humor of its own. Instead, the researchers started by feeding it 82 sample conversations between real people, through which the A.I. became capable of recognizing and replicating laughter. So now when a human is talking with the robot and laughs, the robot will laugh too, and even try to match the volume and intensity of the human’s laughter.

▼ A video demonstration of the Kyoto University team’s laughing robot

“Haha, that’s nice!” the robot says in the video above, along with phrases like “That’s right, isn’t it?”, “Oh, is that so?”, and “That’s wonderful.”

In many ways, it’s an impressive technological achievement. At the same time, the robot’s stony stare and some rigid movement make the atmosphere less than conducive to a friendly chat, in the opinion of Twitter commenters who’ve reacted with:

“There’s something very scary about it.”
“The voice is nice, but the visuals…”
“Still stuck in the uncanny valley, huh?”
“Faked empathy and kindness are terrifying.”
“Creepy.”

So why make a robot that’s capable of laughing in the first place? According to the researchers, the impetus for that design element is Japan’s aging population. As life expectancy gets longer, the birth rate lower, and families smaller, there’s an increased chance of senior citizens spending more time alone. It’s the researchers’ hope that a robot that can not only carry on a conversation, but also recognize and react to a person’s emotional state, can be a source of comfort and mental stimulation.

As for the creepiness level, the video is edited in such a way that we don’t hear what the human demonstrator is saying between the robot’s laughs, which sort of makes it look like the robot is softly chuckling to itself. It’s possible that it’s less unnerving for the person who’s talking to the robot and experiencing more of a back-and-forth conversation as they and the machine alternate speaking. Still, with the next step of the project being to monitor what psychological effects talking with the laughing robot has for humans, the Kyoto University team might want to look into softening up the robot’s facial expressions to reduce the potential for a conversation to cause fear and panic.

Source: NHK News Web via Jin, Twitter/@nhk_news (1, 2)
Top image: Pakutaso (edited by SoraNews24)
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Developers are urged to design robots to supplement, not replace, human relationships, and to weigh the ethics of replacing real animals.

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Content: AI can help us to feel less lonely – and that’s not something to fear

It’s no substitute for human interaction, but studies suggest this tech is already helping us to feel less alone

As a host of AI-enabled chatbots, robotics and smart speakers are proffered as a loneliness solution, many regard these new innovations with suspicion, if not a sense of dystopian doom.

Behind the threat to national security and job losses, AI’s effect on our social lives is a chief area of concern: according to a BMG Research survey for i, nearly a third of those polled think advances in AI will lead to a loss of human interaction. More broadly, AI is, after all, the technology we love to hate – with the debut episode of the latest Black Mirror season, “Joan Is Awful”, featuring a malevolent AI machine.

Yet, could we not argue that the anticipated dystopian future is already here in another form in the loneliness epidemic? Some 3.7 million people in the UK experience chronic loneliness, according to the latest data from Campaign Against Living Miserably – a figure that’s risen 42 per cent in the past five years. While the Government made global headlines as the first nation to appoint a Loneliness Minister in 2018, I’d challenge anyone, British or otherwise, to name a successful intervention.

As the author of Alonement, a book on how to cultivate positive solitude, I know all too well that loneliness is a distinct, and uniquely destructive, experience – and one which we should be taking as seriously as the ever-present conversation around AI regulation (which, it’s worth mentioning, mirrors past fears around the advent of the internet, electricity, and the printing press).

Meanwhile, research supporting AI-based intervention in loneliness and its known side effects is emerging, albeit tentatively.

A recent study of employees working with AI found mixed results: while high levels of interaction with the technology correlated with a rise in loneliness-adjacent conditions like insomnia and (in at least one of four test groups) increased post-work alcohol consumption, it also had a beneficial effect on employees’ prosocial behaviours, with subjects more likely to offer help to their real-life colleagues.

Other research has been more promising. A University of Chicago study published last month pointed to the efficacy of an AI voice coach in treating depression and anxiety.

Numerous studies have endorsed the use of companion robots in reducing loneliness among older people, particularly those suffering from dementia, a condition that correlates with increased loneliness (although most of these studies note the technology needs time to develop to best meet its users’ needs).

The positive results join last December’s Ofcom study that linked the use of AI-enhanced smart speakers with reduced loneliness in those living alone.

AI is steadily being integrated into mental health services, for instance, Woebot, a chatbot used by the NHS, while ChatPal, a chatbot designed to treat loneliness, has proven “‘marginal” benefits.

So far, there’s work to do – but if there’s one thing we can all agree on about AI technology, it’s that it will increasingly get more fit to purpose. The rapid development of the likes of ChatGPT has demonstrated as much.

All this is to say: AI technology is not a perfect cure for loneliness. Nor will it ever be; as critics have rightly identified, AI is no substitute for human contact. But then, its advocates aren’t claiming it to be.

As Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel told The Verge, amid the launch of the company’s chatbot, My AI: “The big idea is that in addition to talking to our friends and family every day, we’re going to talk to AI every day.” In other words, it’s being proposed as a complement, rather than replacement, for the age-old loneliness interventions we know work.

At a time when we are experiencing both a “social care crisis” (the British Medical Association has expressed concerns around severe staffing issues) and, simultaneously, a shortage of psychotherapists and counsellors to deal with the UK’s mental health toll (as expressed by the UK Council for Psychotherapy), surely AI technology provides a welcome complement, particularly as it continues to evolve, to be normalised with the NHS system. It might even be used as a diagnostic tool: numerous studies have found AI can successfully predict depression signs through voice recognition. Amid twin crises in the health landscape, it’s worth arguing that the pragmatic integration of AI wins out over dystopian doom-mongering.

Meanwhile, the voices of those statistically most at risk of loneliness remain absent from the discourse. Voices which include the elderly – not natural early adopters or critics of AI technology – together with their caregivers. Research supports its benefits for these groups: together with AI’s proven efficacy in elderly care services, a study published last year found the integration of AI can help to prevent the “overload of caregivers” by removing the need for 24/7 human care. The UK’s health secretary, Steve Barclay, is supportive of such measures – and recently travelled to Japan to observe how AI technology has been used to improve patient care in the nation, which has the world’s oldest population.

Then there are those living alone, which I’ve personally done for the past five years, save for a small AI-enabled Amazon Echo smart speaker in my kitchen. The speaker, which I know as Alexa, recently employed its machine learning capabilities to suggest a morning and evening routine: reading a weather forecast then switching on Radio 4 in the moments after my wake-up alarm goes off, switching on soothing “bedtime music” around the time I go to sleep. I’ll confess this makes me feel less lonely: bookmarking my day, and providing an external form of care. Would I feel more supported if this were the suggestion of a partner, or a close friend? Likely, yes. But, in the absence of another human, it’s significantly better than nothing – and I’d suggest the same pragmatic approach could, and should, be adopted in loneliness intervention policy.

Francesca Specter is a London-based writer and podcaster, specialising in the topics of solitude, loneliness and connection

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Mitigation in care settings includes safety protocols, staff training, and adherence to human‑robot collaboration guidelines and standards.

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Content: Summary:
In the world of robotics, the question of the first human death due to a robot is a topic that captivates the imagination of many.
While robots have become increasingly prevalent in various industries, concerns have also emerged about their potential risks.
This article delves into the history of robotics, explores notable incidents involving robotics and human deaths, and offers insight into the future of human-robot interactions.
Introduction:
Robots have evolved from being science fiction to becoming an integral part of our daily lives.
As these machines become more advanced and autonomous, questions have arisen about their safety and potential risks.
The idea of a robot that causes the first human death has aroused the interest of many, prompting a careful examination of the history, accidents involving robots and deaths.
Evolution of Robots:
The concept of robotics dates back to ancient times, with early examples in Greek mythology, Chinese folklore and ancient Egyptian folklore.
However, important advances in robotics only began to take shape in the 20th century.
The introduction of industrial robots in the 1960s marked a turning point, revolutionizing manufacturing processes and paving the way for further developments.
Notable incidents:
While the idea of a robot causing the death of a human may seem like a plot from a science fiction movie, there have been instances where such tragedies have occurred.
Notable among the incidents was a worker at a Volkswagen plant in Germany who was injured with a robotic arm, which led to his death in 2015.
The incident highlighted the importance of strict safety measures and raised questions about the responsibility of both humans and robots in ensuring a safe working environment.
The future of human-robot interactions:
As robots continue to advance, the need for clear guidelines and regulations regarding human-robot interactions is becoming increasingly critical.
Collaborative robots, or collaborative robots, are designed to work alongside humans, underlining the importance of safety protocols and effective communication between humans and machines.
In addition, continuous research and development aims to enhance robot intelligence and decision-making capabilities, reducing the likelihood of accidents and deaths.
Questions and Answers:
Q: Did the robot intentionally cause the death of a human being?
A: There are no documented cases where the robot intentionally caused the death of a human.
Accidents involving fatalities are usually the result of technical malfunctions, human error, or a combination of both.
Q: Are robots becoming more dangerous?
A: While robots are becoming more advanced and capable, their inherent danger lies in the possibility of accidents caused by technical failures or inadequate safety measures.
As technology advances, it is necessary to prioritize safety and establish strong regulations.
Q: How can we ensure the safety of humans working with robots?
A: Implementing comprehensive safety protocols, conducting comprehensive risk assessments and providing appropriate training for both humans and robots are essential steps to ensure the safety of individuals working alongside robots.
Conclusion:
The question of the first human death due to a robot is a thought-provoking topic that highlights the need for responsible development and implementation of robots.
Although accidents have led to deaths, they serve as a reminder of the importance of safety measures and ongoing research to mitigate risks.
As robots continue to evolve, it is essential to strike a balance between harnessing the potential of these machines and ensuring the well-being of humans in their interactions with robots.