Robotic pets are being marketed as emotional companions, especially for elderly or lonely individuals, and have been shown to reduce loneliness in 70 percent of recipients and decrease pain by 75 percent.

These robotic pets are lifelike and can act like real pets, providing comfort and emotional support to those in need, and are being used in various settings, including therapeutic and social settings.

The use of robotic pets raises ethical questions about replacing real animals with robots, and public attitudes towards robotic pets are varied, with some people seeing them as a useful tool for social interaction and others viewing them as a replacement for human connection.

Robotic pets have advanced capabilities, including performing complex moves and responding to voice commands, and are equipped with various sensors, such as vision, touch, and hearing sensors, to interact with their environment and respond to user input.

Some robotic pets, such as CyberDog, use AI voice interaction systems for navigation and voice recognition, enabling them to understand and respond to voice commands.

Robotic pets can provide a sense of purpose for seniors, respond to touch and environment, and have lifelike imitation fur and sensors, reducing depression in seniors and improving social interactions.

The cost of robotic pets can range from $100 to $140, making them a relatively affordable option for those in need of emotional support, and they are being used in therapeutic settings to manage sciatic pain and loneliness.

However, there are also potential consequences to relying on robotic pets as a substitute for human connection, including social isolation, emotional dependence, and a lack of motivation for human connections.

Despite these concerns, many people have reported forming strong emotional bonds with robotic pets, which can provide a sense of comfort, companionship, and intimacy.

Ultimately, the use of robotic pets as emotional companions raises important ethical questions about the potential consequences of replacing real animals with robots and the impact on human relationships.

Robotic pets can help cure loneliness and give mental support, especially for seniors, and have been found to reduce feelings of anxiety and loneliness in this demographic.

The development of robotic pets should consider the potential consequences of replacing real animals with robots, and should prioritize transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility.

Robotic pets can provide health benefits, such as reducing anxiety and depression in seniors, and can be used in hospice care services to provide comfort and companionship.

The use of robotic pets in therapeutic settings is becoming increasingly popular, with companies like EX Robots developing humanoid robots for emotional support and companionship.

These humanoid robots are designed to mimic human-like skin and facial expressions, and can provide a sense of purpose and companionship for lonely individuals.

The design of robotic pets must prioritize user comfort, safety, and well-being, while also considering the potential ethical implications of creating robots that can mimic human-like attachment and dependence.

Overall, robotic pets have the potential to provide emotional companionship and social interaction, particularly for elderly or lonely individuals, but further research is needed to fully understand their benefits and limitations.

Robotic pets are being marketed as emotional companions, especially for elderly or lonely individuals, and have been shown to reduce loneliness in 70 percent of recipients and decrease pain by 75 percent.

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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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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?

These robotic pets are lifelike and can act like real pets, providing comfort and emotional support to those in need, and are being used in various settings, including therapeutic and social settings.

Title:

Content: Virginia nonprofit donates hundreds of robotic pets to children from Ukraine

Children in Ukraine who had to leave their homes are getting a special surprise from a Northern Virginia nonprofit.

They look like stuffed animals, but there’s more to them.

“These are quite remarkable. They are lifelike and act like real pets. They’re affordable,” Steve Cone, chief of philanthropy and communications at Virginia-based Capital Caring, said.

The organization started integrating robotic pets into its care and provided them to patients with dementia, veterans and younger children with serious health issues.

They cost $150 and are funded mostly through donations.

Now, 500 of these pets are being sent to children from Ukraine who had to leave their homes.

“We decided this was a wonderful way to provide something unexpected and delightful that would really be heartwarming and something that the child would just be delighted with,” Cone said.

The nonprofit provides hospice care and long-term illness services for people in the D.C. area.

“Reading and hearing about these little children who have lost their homes and their pets, it just seemed like something we should try to do.”

The nonprofit is working with the Polish government to get the robotic pets to Ukrainian refugees.

“They don’t have to worry about feeding it, walking it, cleaning up after it; they just can enjoy the love that it brings them,” Cone said.

Anyone interested in donating to the nonprofit can visit Capital Caring’s donation webpage.

Valerie Bonk

Valerie Bonk started working at WTOP in 2016 and has lived in Howard County, Maryland, her entire life. She's thrilled to be a reporter for WTOP telling stories on air. She works as both a television and radio reporter in the Maryland and D.C. areas.

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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?

The use of robotic pets raises ethical questions about replacing real animals with robots, and public attitudes towards robotic pets are varied, with some people seeing them as a useful tool for social interaction and others viewing them as a replacement for human connection.

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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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Robotic pets have advanced capabilities, including performing complex moves and responding to voice commands, and are equipped with various sensors, such as vision, touch, and hearing sensors, to interact with their environment and respond to user input.

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

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What is the robotic seeing eye dog capable of via AI technology?

Some robotic pets, such as CyberDog, use AI voice interaction systems for navigation and voice recognition, enabling them to understand and respond to voice commands.

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Content: Xiaomi Bionic Quadruped Robot Built-in AI Voice Interactive System and Face Recognition Technology
Technology 14: 00 2021 / 08 / 11
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Xiaomi announced its first bionic four-legged robot, CyberDog, at an online conference yesterday (10th), with a built-in super-sensory visual detection system and an AI voice interaction system that supports a variety of bionic movements and postures.
(Image source: Xiaomi official website)
Xiaomi has ventured into a number of new fields, and recently extended the technology of mobile phone imaging to bionic robots.
Xiaomi announced its first bionic four-legged robot, CyberDog, at an online conference yesterday (10th), with a built-in super-sensory visual detection system and an AI voice interaction system that supports a variety of bionic movements and postures.
Xiaomi CyberDog has a built-in super-sensitive visual detection system, which can realize self-recognition following, SLAM mapping and navigation obstacle avoidance functions. Using facial recognition technology, CyberDog can select the following target, instantly confirm the target ’ s relative 3D position, and automatically adjust the speed according to the target distance, so that it can be quickly followed even in the outdoor environment. And...
Click the image to enlarge
+ 2
CyberDog can also use the collaboration of multiple sensors to sense the current environment, create a navigation map through the algorithm, and automatically plan the best route to the next target point, and achieve autonomous obstacle avoidance during navigation and follow-up.
Facebook updates data transfer tool to add support for Google Calendar, Photobucket album
At present, Xiaomi Smart Voice can be used in 8 live AI voice interaction scenarios, connecting more than 72 product categories and more than 3,000 devices.
CyberDog will also use this technology to perform more human communication.
Xiaomi said that users can control CyberDog through voice, remote control, and mobile phone, and issue commands to CyberDog with the "Iron Egg" wake-up words.
CyberDog brain powered by AI supercomputer
In addition, CyberDog has built-in Xiaomi self-developed high-performance servo motor, and powerful performance support allows CyberDog to easily complete various high-speed sports and high-difficulty actions such as backflip.
Its maximum walking speed is 3.2m / s (maximum safe walking speed is 1.6m / s), the joints can achieve a maximum torque output of 32N.m, and the maximum speed of 220rpm.
Xiaomi said that CyberDog ’ s brain uses edge AI supercomputers to process large amounts of data.
Xiaomi is committed to share the achievements of bionic quadruped robot research and development, and is currently the first to launch 1,000 "CyberDog Bionic Quadruped Robot Engineering Exploration Edition", priced at RMB 9,999 (about HK $12,000), and the Hong Kong listing time is uncertain.
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Robotic pets can provide a sense of purpose for seniors, respond to touch and environment, and have lifelike imitation fur and sensors, reducing depression in seniors and improving social interactions.

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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 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?

The cost of robotic pets can range from $100 to $140, making them a relatively affordable option for those in need of emotional support, and they are being used in therapeutic settings to manage sciatic pain and loneliness.

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

However, there are also potential consequences to relying on robotic pets as a substitute for human connection, including social isolation, emotional dependence, and a lack of motivation for human connections.

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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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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Title:

Content: A video.
Can humans fall in love with artificial intelligence robots?
16 July 2024, 8: 52 am
AI-powered chatbots, such as Siri and Alexa, have become popular as virtual assistants, but a new type of humanoid chatbot has emerged that interacts via text, voice and images, offering personalized romantic and even sexual experiences.
With the development of artificial intelligence technology, chatbots have become more realistic and attractive, causing some to worry that users may fall in love with them.
Preliminary studies suggest that interacting with chatbots can be fun and emotionally exciting, with some users feeling a stronger emotional attachment to chatbots than to humans.
Experts say falling in love with an artificial intelligence robot carries potential risks, including hindering social skills in developing real relationships.
Easy access to chatbots and their constant companionship can lead to withdrawal from real social relationships.
In addition, chatbots provide unrealistic expectations about romantic relationships, which can hinder a person ’ s ability to form healthy relationships with humans.
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Despite these concerns, many people have reported forming strong emotional bonds with robotic pets, which can provide a sense of comfort, companionship, and intimacy.

Title:

Content: Robots in the future will serve as a dog for the elderly or lonely people – scientists
Robots that in the future will support the elderly or lonely, should build relationships with the owner not as people, but as dogs.
In the future, this concept will be applied by developers.
Scientists from the University of Glasgow have made relevant conclusions based on new research.
This is reported on September 29 in the magazine PLOS ONE.
Scottish researchers surveyed more than 150 dog breeders and found that there are seven of the most commonly cited factors most closely related to animals.
These include the ability to communicate, the predictability of reactions, the physical signs of attachment, a positive, sometimes even enthusiastic approach, a propensity for joint activities, a sense of intimacy and, finally, the ability to adapt to each other.
Perhaps robots that behave this way will be approved.
The researchers suggest that embedding this type of behavior into robot software will allow them to provide their owners with the same experience and health benefits as friendship with a real animal, without the attendant responsibilities.
This will allow the technique to be used effectively.
"Our approach has allowed us to gain knowledge about the factors that make people so enjoy the company of dogs.
Although it will not be easy to recreate such behavior in robots, it can help in creating friendships for wards, ” the authors said.
In the next phase of the study, a team led by Katie Riddock intends to conduct tests involving humans and robots behaving like dogs.
An additional topic of study may also be the dependence of preferences of different types of dog behavior depending on the age, origin and environment of specific people.
Earlier, Cursor reported that engineers have created a robot that searches for lost things.
The system uses visual information from video cameras, as well as radio private signals, so it is highly efficient.
Read the latest news from Israel and the world on the Kursor channel in Telegram.
Author of the material:
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How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

The AI Cloud plan allows robotic dog Aibo to do what?

make interactions increasingly personal and unique

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?

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

The AI Cloud plan allows robotic dog Aibo to do what?

make interactions increasingly personal and unique

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?

Ultimately, the use of robotic pets as emotional companions raises important ethical questions about the potential consequences of replacing real animals with robots and the impact on human relationships.

Title:

Content: 20: 26, 04 April 2023
2 min.
People may well start a relationship with artificial intelligence.
And here 's why
This scientific research proves
Once upon a time, online dating was talked about with distrust.
But now they have become quite commonplace.
And thanks to the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies, something similar can happen in terms of relations with machines equipped with artificial intelligence.
Photo: WSJ
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be equipped with both physical robots and chatbots.
The researchers tried to find out what forms of friendship, love, sex people are able to experience with machines with AI, as well as what specifically encourages people to create such relationships at all.
It is believed that lonely people are likely to turn to AI in search of romantic and sexual pleasure.
But studies show that this is not the case.
The willingness to use sex robots is associated to a greater extent with a person ’ s sexual preferences and search for sensations.
In other words, some people consider this option because they want to get a new experience, a new sexual experience.
And people, as studies show, are finding many uses for AI.
They can serve as companions, therapists.
That is, in general, people are drawn to machines with artificial intelligence for various reasons.
However, scientists are only beginning to understand how the relationship with machines is different from communicating with living people.
The Ambient
One of the advantages of romantic and sexual artificial intelligence systems is their therapeutic value.
For example, sex robots can help disabled or elderly people explore their sexuality.
But there is very little research into such activities.
Some of the earlier scientific studies show that people get roughly the same pleasure from having sex with a human and with a chatbot.
There is also no doubt that we can form a deep attachment to artificial intelligence.
That is, we can really perceive the virtual assistant as a friend, a romantic partner, etc.
Partners news
Partners news

Robotic pets can help cure loneliness and give mental support, especially for seniors, and have been found to reduce feelings of anxiety and loneliness in this demographic.

Title:

Content: City School holds TED Like Power Talks

Hyderabad, December 30, 2023: Hyderabad-based St Peter’s School at Bowenpally organised a unique program ‘Stars of Inspiration–an evening under the open sky’ on Saturday night at its premises in Bowenpally on Friday night, for three hours and continued till 9 in the night.

A platform for school-level talks, expressing new ideas, thoughts, and perspectives created. It will be an annual feature announced by Mr. T. Alphonse Reddy Correspondent, St. Peter’s High School.  Summing up at the end of three hour-long marathon talks.   He along with other colleagues Mrs Saroja, former Principal of the School, and Mrs T. Aruna Reddy, Director, unveiled a new logo, as it is entering 25 years and celebrating its Silver Jubilee in the year 2024. It began its journey in 1979 by three young social entrepreneurs to offer rock-strong Edu-foundation, he said.

In an era of short messages, short forms of videos like Reels, shorts, and WhatsApp status videos, we came up with this idea of why not have TED-like short talks that fire up in two minutes even less than that. We coined it aptly ‘Stars of Inspiration–an evening under the open sky’. It is a platform for school-level talks, expressing new ideas, thoughts, and perspectives created. It will be an annual feature, he said.  The response was overwhelming. We have got 400 entries from class 6 to 12th.  We shortlisted and brought it down to 50, he added.

We have not filtered nor polished their thoughts. They were raw. Seventy per cent of the 50 speakers were first-timers.  It was their maiden talk in front of 1000-plus parents, teachers, non-teaching staff, guests and peers. It was their feelings, experiences, observations, random thoughts, personal journey, and life lessons learnt, straight from their heart, while some delivered with confidence, others struggled to speak. They put their mind out open, in their language, words, vocabulary, and thought process, he said.

Giving her opening remarks Dr. K. Suvarna, Principal of the school said in an era where the attention span of the public is getting shorter and shorter, where teenagers have become screenagers and juggle between many screens (read Mobile, TV, and Tablet, Laptop, Desktop, OTT), where people are living in a room filled with distractions all the time, the school had to do something different. Equip students with an approach so that they capture the world’s attention.  They can say what they want to say, just in the span of an elevator journey.

It goes well with the school’s credo, ‘Let every child blossom’, she said. It is a celebration of expression, talent and diverse perspectives.

The Talks were outstanding examples of stand-up, speak-up, fire-up and shut-up.

The evening began with the first talk by Simra Baig of class 100. He spoke about ‘Body Dysmorphia’, a mental health condition where some people spend a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. Nearly one million people are struggling with it, he said.

Netra Singh of class six who spoke about ‘Homegrown Genius’, came up with the idea of Anti-Sleep alarm goggles for drivers to avert mishaps. She also spoke about Robotic Pets, which can help cure loneliness and give mental support.  Especially post-COVID pet adoption has gone up and so also the cost of maintaining pets, real pets scaring delivery boys (causing the death of a couple of food delivery boys) and street dog menace (being read every day in the city).  In the light of this state of affairs, she prompted an idea of Robotic Pet and she showed her version of Robotic Pet.

Vishwanath Karthikey, a tenth grader, the youngest to set some world records in mountaineering, shared how painful the journey was. He told his friends never to give up. There were several times in my mountaineering endeavours when I wanted to give up, had I done that I would not have stood in front of you talking today. Success is the outcome of many failures.  There are no failures, only opportunities to improve, bettering oneself he said.

M.S. Mridhulya of the 9th class speaking about her journey from an introvert to an extrovert said ‘my socialising battery was always low.  Outside the comfort zone was where the magic happened in my life.  And concluded with a powerful message, the best and the only journey is the journey you must travel within you.

Ariana Kingham of Class 6 spoke about her journey from Bhutan to Hyderabad and the beauty of learning languages.  All languages are interesting, you just need to peep into them.

Speaking about Men’s Mental health, Afrah Fatima of the tenth class said men can also get anxious, insecure, abused, brad down, cry, and depressed. You must treat men the same as female victims, she said and added that the Mental health of men is important.  Men keep stress to themselves.  You are not alone. You are not first and you are not the last. You are not a burden she said.

Speaking about skin colour-based discrimination, T. Sriharshitha of class ten said that she was always discriminated against based on her skin colour.  Your skin colour is something you are gifted with. Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, and Draupadi Murmu, all are dark-coloured but still, people love them and adore them. They are an inspiration to many.  Dont colour decide your future, she said

A Greevan spoke about Wars and said those who start a war don’t get killed.  The soldier’s life is at stake. Those soldiers who go to war, may not return home.  Even if they return, his family may not be there. Even if his family is found, he may not be in the same physical condition.  When he returns, he may return without hands or legs.

Yusuf Ali moved everyone with this journey, how he fought Crouzon Syndrome (a genetic syndrome which affects the shape of the head and face). I look different.  School admission was a challenge.  Every day was a struggle.  I didn’t give up, he shared.

Speaking about how he travelled from a mere participant in track events to a national athlete, Dheeraj Sadula of the 9th class gave a message to his peers not to expect some incredible results in one day as most of the current generation looks for instant results.

Divija Hari, a 12th grader, beautifully explained the bond of friendship.  And said that having genuine connections even if they are few are better than thousands of Facebook friends.  She read out a beautiful poem ‘Brides of Bonds’, and she wrote.

The school’s Fire and Gas Leakage Fichter Robot was selected in the CBSE Regional Science Exhibition and will be participating in the National Exhibition in January 2024 in New Delhi. The winning teams gain entry to be exhibited in the Rashtriya Bal Vaigyanik Pradarshani to be organised by NCERT. St Peter’s team is one of the 30 exhibits selected out of 3169 student teams registered. Varenya, Pritam and Samuel share their journey of participation and success.

Sammathamu Swathi Hansika, an 11th grader speaking about digital liberation spoke and YourHourAPP, which gives a daily view of how often one checks phone and how frequently one uses different apps. You can then set limits with daily app timers, and unplug at night with features like Bedtime mode, etc.

Sameena Hajee speaking on bonding with blood spoke about the importance of family and appealed to parents to have mutual understanding so that their children can lead a better life.

The series of captivating Power Talks covered a vast array of topics that showcased the depth of their interests and passions. From Career Exploration to Community Service Reflection, Artistic Showcase to Language Learning Journey, Smart India Hackathon to Creative Writing, Reading, Book Review, Personal Journey, Research Showcase, TED Style Talks, Student Life at St.Peter’s High School and much more – these talks were not just informative but a reflection of the dedication and passion our students pour into their pursuits.

About Neel Achary 18495 Articles
Neel Achary is the editor of Business News This Week. He has been covering all the business stories, economy, and corporate stories.

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?

The development of robotic pets should consider the potential consequences of replacing real animals with robots, and should prioritize transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility.

Robotic pets can provide health benefits, such as reducing anxiety and depression in seniors, and can be used in hospice care services to provide comfort and companionship.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

The use of robotic pets in therapeutic settings is becoming increasingly popular, with companies like EX Robots developing humanoid robots for emotional support and companionship.

Title:

Content: China creates humanoid robots to accompany lonely young and old
At the World Robotics Congress in Beijing, robots with human-like skin, facial expressions and body movements demonstrated their ability to mimic.
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While the idea of seeking emotional support from robots that look like sci-fi movies may sound surreal, a Chinese tech company is working to make it a reality.
Li Boyang, CEO of EX Robots in Dalian, hopes the robot will provide emotional support, mimicking the role of a friend or family member.
He pointed out: "Many young people are very lonely, after entering the society may not have many friends, no family company, and lack of partners."
In the future, such emotional companionship, and even companion robots are also a market demand.
The needs of the elderly are more direct.
Now young people are indeed few, many young people leave home, it is difficult to accompany the elderly.
So accompanying the elderly robot is always mentioned, saying that the elderly can get a robot? It is because this demand is obvious, very direct. "
According to reports, EX Robots was established in July 2013 in Dalian, is a professional engaged in intelligent bionic humanoid robot research and development, production, sales and service of high-tech enterprises.
The robots, which have human-like skin, facial expressions and body movements, as well as a certain level of language expression, are designed to act and engage in emotions like humans.
Li Boyang also pointed out: "We think that the final form of humanoid robots should be infinitely close to humans."
In this case, we need to add other dimensions to the interaction.
Compared to other smart devices, our devices have an extra dimension of expression in their interactions. ”
The robot on display is one of the most popular robots at the annual World Robot Conference in Beijing.
The World Robot Congress runs until August 22.
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What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

These humanoid robots are designed to mimic human-like skin and facial expressions, and can provide a sense of purpose and companionship for lonely individuals.

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

The design of robotic pets must prioritize user comfort, safety, and well-being, while also considering the potential ethical implications of creating robots that can mimic human-like attachment and dependence.

Title:

Content: Cross-Strait International
Trend Creativity: Simulation cat toy experience as a host
Many people want to keep cats, but they often put it on hold for many reasons, such as lack of space and family sensitivity to cats.
A company in Tokyo, Japan has developed a toy that simulates real cats (photo) for cat lovers to play with.
The toy is able to restore the real cat's body temperature and heartbeat, and when the owner touches it, it will make the cat cry, healing the user's heart.
Its soft texture may be more comfortable to touch than a real cat, and it does not have to worry about the cat suddenly attacking you with its claws.
In order to further restore the texture of the real cat, the design company also designed the toy to make the sound of Gollum, which is to test the master's touch skills, so that "he" feels comfortable.
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Title:

Content: Japan develops pet doll with finger bites containing 10 kinds of bites super healing and sighing addiction
Author: Sister Zizhi
Published: Updated:
Puppies and babies often bite their owners or parents' fingers because of tooth marks. The Japanese call this half-bite feeling a "willingness to roam."
A Japanese company that makes healing machines made two robotic pets to recreate the experience of motherhood, and the host admitted to being addicted! Now let ’ s show you what ’ s special about them!
Twitter: @ yukaikk
Copyright (C) 2018, All Rights Reserved. Supported by ChemNet ChinaChemNet Toocle Copyright Notice
If you have children or pets, you should be familiar with the feeling of being bitten by their fingers.
However, the small life will grow up, people who do not have a pet do not have this experience. A Japanese company, Kogyo, sees this business opportunity and imitates this feeling of half bite "Gan Ying" to make two healing mechanical pets, which can imitate the behavior of small animals or BB biting fingers.
Find out more about these two adorable pets.
+ 5
The Japanese television program Seikari has also recently introduced these two "Kansai Hashimoto".
The host described the two mechanical pets as smooth, not light or heavy, and less heavy than ordinary fur dolls, with a "biological sense".
???????????????????????
Virgins have a good marriage, the first has the strongest money luck
When the company produces products, employees with babies and pets at home test, after repeated experiments to reproduce the tooth shape and occlusion frequency, to create the most ideal robot. Although the robot pet is still in development, the existing version has dozens of occlusion strength and frequency, and every time it is inserted, it feels different.
Gan Gan Gan Hao Hao Hao
Two mechanical pets are tentatively scheduled to start crowdfunding this spring to fight for the summer sale, and one is expected to sell for 4 to 5 thousand yen.
If you are interested, you can follow the latest developments on the official website of "Gan Ying Mi Hao Mi Hao Mi" and contribute to the development!
Recommended reading: Japan's first cowboy to help the Internet red house enterprises to abandon Roland hegemony: the whole house sunk it
It ’ s still half a month before the New Year, and it ’ s time to leave! Today, we ’ ll take you through the process of the President of Japan ’ s No. 1 Cowboy, ROLAND, who has been subscribed by tens of millions of YouTubers.
President of Japan ’ s well-known YouTuber, ROLAND, who had crossed 10 million registrations earlier, came to his home in Tokyo and proposed to start a new page with his resignation.
The result is lost! For more details, please go to the original article.

Overall, robotic pets have the potential to provide emotional companionship and social interaction, particularly for elderly or lonely individuals, but further research is needed to fully understand their benefits and limitations.

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?


LiveJournal began as a personal journaling application created by Brad Fitzpatrick before evolving into a public website.

LiveJournal combined blogging and social networking, inspired by the earlier online community, the WELL.

LiveJournal was initially used to keep up with school friends, allowing users to publish, comment, and follow each other's records.

The platform's evolution into a public platform coincided with the rise of Facebook, which launched in 2004 and opened to everyone in 2006.

LiveJournal's user base grew to reportedly over 2 million registered users.

The platform faced challenges, including removing terrorism materials and access issues in regions like Kazakhstan, which blocked it due to illegal content.

LiveJournal planned to expand, including opening a Kazakhstan office, to maintain and grow its user base.

LiveJournal's decline in popularity can be attributed to increasing censorship, Western social media influence, and rating system manipulation.

Sberbank's involvement in LiveJournal led to censorship and post removals, significantly impacting the platform's content.

The platform's technical infrastructure, including Perl, PostgreSQL, and Linux, supported its development but struggled with increasing demand.

LiveJournal's experience offers lessons for online communities, including investing in infrastructure, adapting to user needs, and prioritizing community engagement.

The site's history highlights the challenges of transitioning from a niche community to a mainstream platform.

LiveJournal's unique features and technical infrastructure significantly impacted its development and decline, offering valuable lessons for other online platforms.

LiveJournal began as a personal journaling application created by Brad Fitzpatrick before evolving into a public website.

Title:

Content: Regulators Seem to Think That Facebook Is the Internet

That’s a problem.

In 1997, SixDegrees.com was the first real attempt at social networking, creating a space where users could upload their information and list their friends. The site peaked at approximately 3.5 million users before it shut down in 1999.

Since then, a series of social networking business models have emerged, each time offering more advanced tools for user interaction. LiveJournal, a site for keeping up with school friends, combined blogging and social networking features inspired by the WELL; Friendster was a social network that allowed for increased interaction and control by users; Myspace had open membership and gave users the freedom to customize their pages. In 2005, it—and its 25 million user base—was sold to News Corp. But within three years, Myspace had been surpassed by Facebook, which launched in 2004 for college students and opened to everyone in 2006.

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As that history shows, in the early days of the internet, disruption was profound and constant: New companies emerged in music, video, e-commerce, publishing, and telephony on an almost yearly basis. The internet appeared to be a space where competition could thrive.

Not anymore.

Today, disruption happens in much smaller ways. The examples are getting fewer because economies of scale have concentrated innovation in the hands of a few players.

More often, disruption comes from regulation—for better or, often, for worse. Current regulation attempts focus on the actions and behavior of some actors—chiefly Facebook—while creating unintended consequences for the internet, particularly fragmentation, or the splintering of the global internet into one that more closely hews territorial borders.

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It’s understandable that both the public and regulators might think that regulating “the internet” means focusing on the biggest players. Much of it has to do with the fact that users are often exposed to various types of illegal behavior and content through some of the most popular services that exist on the internet. Fix misinformation, or extremism, or ideological silos, or security on Facebook, the thinking goes, and you’ve fixed it on the internet as a whole.

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But this is an unhelpful and misguided narrative. First, the internet is not a monolith, so treating it as if it is simply will not work. Second, many of the issues regulators are trying to address are not internet problems; they are societal. Terrorism, child abuse, and mis- and disinformation are not an offspring of the internet; they existed before the internet, and they will continue to exist after it as they are ingrained in human societies. Yet, they are treated as if they are exclusively internet problems. Third, and most importantly, regulators should stop thinking of the internet as Facebook and treating it as such. In the internet regulatory landscape, there is a mixed bag of different issues, and Facebook’s involvement in all of them, direct or indirect, adds to the current complexity. Content moderation, privacy, intermediary liability, competition, encryption—these are all broader issues related to the internet, not just Facebook. Yet, the pattern that has emerged is to treat them as Facebook issues. What this means is that, instead of focusing on trying to address them in ways appropriate for the entire internet ecosystem, they are addressed through the Facebook lens. This has been quite accurately characterized as the “Facebook Derangement Syndrome.”

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The global regulatory agenda is replete with such examples. In the United Kingdom, the Online Safety legislation wants to ban end-to-end encryption because of Facebook’s plan to introduce it as a default setting in its Messenger service. On the other side of the Commonwealth, Australia recently introduced a media bargaining code mainly targeting Facebook. Facebook famously “left” the country before renegotiating a new agreement. Similarly, in what seems to be a coordinated effort, Canada has vowed to work with Australia in an attempt to impose regulatory restrictions on Facebook.

And this trend is not limited to the Commonwealth.

India’s new intermediary guidelines aim at tightening a regulatory grip on Facebook and its partner company WhatsApp while Brazil’s fake news bill, which got approved by the Senate, is focusing on content moderation on Facebook and traceability on WhatsApp. In France, there have been conversations about the introduction of “new rules” for Facebook, while Germany’s Network Enforcement Law—NetzDG—was drafted with the primary focus of taming Facebook. Finally, in the United States, the Trump administration issued an unsuccessful executive order that aimed to regulate Facebook for bias.

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This approach of limiting regulation to Facebook is not entirely unusual. It reflects the principal-agent conundrum that, over the years, has allowed companies like Facebook to  propose policies and deploy tools that can have an impact on the way regulation gets to be enforced. The principal-agent problem is predominantly characterized by conflict of interest and moral hazards. Due to information asymmetries, the agent holds the bargaining power, and this creates a few unknowns: The principal is in no position to know the information the agent holds. Even when she does, she cannot be certain that the agent is acting to her best interest. So, the principal ends up focusing squarely on the agent, disregarding any peripheral issues that might be significant.

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The principal-agent problem may help explain why governments appear ready to introduce regulation targeting Facebook; however, it does not help explain why, in the process of doing so, the main loser is the internet and its users.

Over the past couple of years, Facebook has said, “We support regulation,” and “we want updated internet regulations to set clear guidelines for addressing today’s toughest challenges.” This statement would be significant if it did not come across as self-serving. At this stage, regulation is inescapable and Facebook knows it—as does the rest of big tech. In an effort to adapt to this new reality, companies often take advantage of their dominant position to drive regulatory processes, often at the expense of regulation itself.

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In this context, the question we should be asking is not whether regulation is appropriate, but what are the real implications of regulating in such a manner? There is already an argument that focusing on a few, big players has an impact on the health of innovation and the ability of newcomers to compete. And, then, there is the internet. The internet’s global reach is one of its main strengths. It is a feature, not a bug. Among other things, it allows the maintenance of supply chains all over the world; it allows people to communicate; it lowers costs; and it makes information sharing easier, all the while helping to address societal issues like poverty or climate change.

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To this end, the attempt to regulate based on one—or a handful—of companies can jeopardize this very important goal of the internet. It can create fragmentation, in the sense of not allowing data to flow across borders or networks to interconnect, and this can be very real and have a very big impact. It can impose limits on the way information and data gets to be shared and the way networks may interoperate. These are significant trade-offs, and they must be part of any regulation’s process.

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So where do we go from here?

For sure, the answer cannot be to stop regulating. We must accept, however, that the current approach often generates unintended consequences that only superficially affect those who must be regulated.

In this light, a possible way forward is to experiment with regulation. Experimental regulation is a relatively underused approach, yet it is flexible enough to accommodate dynamic markets, like the internet. Originally associated with the work of John Dewey, this idea is premised on the fact that, in policymaking, the way we approach theories and strategies of justice depends on “the experience of their pursuit; it is these changes that then allow us to consider how best to achieve our objectives.” The advantage of this thinking is that it considers unintended consequences as an opportunity to better define appropriate regulatory frameworks and how to achieve the desired goals.

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Internet regulation does not experiment enough, and when it does, it appears to have the wrong focus. In Australia, for instance, the effort to ensure robust journalism in an age of disinformation in social media platforms led to a “link tax” that undermines the architecture, history, and economics of the internet. This is partly due to the role big tech companies play in the regulatory process. One of the immediate things one can observe with internet regulation is the process some actors deploy: In the beginning, they operate in favor of sustaining existing policies and bureaucracies. The thinking is that longevity brings legitimacy, and as a result, the policy becomes its own cause. Once this strategy is embedded in process, these powerful forces move toward pushing their own regulatory agenda.

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It is for this reason that there is a certain appeal toward flexible regulatory systems that allow different units to experiment with different approaches and make room for assessments that separate the relevant from the nonrelevant and preexisting rules. Although experimentation neither offers a drastic approach nor aims to replace traditional routes of regulation, it can limit the risks of politicization, as politics become more context focused.

One of the first things we need is an internet impact assessment that looks at the different parts of the internet’s infrastructure and the effect that regulation may have. It is no longer just about regulating a few actors. It is about protecting the global infrastructure that we all depend on daily.

The internet has a Facebook problem, but the internet is not Facebook.

This article represents the views of the author and not those of his employer, the Internet Society. Facebook is an organization member of the Internet Society.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.

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LiveJournal combined blogging and social networking, inspired by the earlier online community, the WELL.

LiveJournal was initially used to keep up with school friends, allowing users to publish, comment, and follow each other's records.

Title:

Content: LiveJournal is back in Kazakhstan
519
Anna VLADIMIROVA
Access to the "Live Journal" was restored after the administration of the LiveJournal blog platform executed the decisions of the judicial authorities of Kazakhstan on the removal of illegal materials posted on the resource.
Representatives of LiveJournal reported on the removal from the blogging platform of materials containing signs of propaganda of terrorism and religious extremism, public calls to commit acts of terrorism and the manufacture of explosive devices.
Earlier, the Saryarka court of Astana issued a decision to close access to the “Live Journal ” from August 20, 2011 due to the distribution of these materials.
As a result, the Committee of Communications, Informatization and Information of the Ministry of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan decided to resume access to the resource on the territory of Kazakhstan from November 11 this year.
LiveJournal also plans to open a representative office in Kazakhstan and develop the Kazakhstan segment of the blogging platform.
For reference: “Live Journal ” is a blogging platform for keeping online diaries (blogs).
Provides the ability to publish your own and comment on other people ’ s records, conduct collective blogs (“communities ”), add other users to friends and follow their records in the“ friends feed ”.
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The platform's evolution into a public platform coincided with the rise of Facebook, which launched in 2004 and opened to everyone in 2006.

LiveJournal's user base grew to reportedly over 2 million registered users.

The platform faced challenges, including removing terrorism materials and access issues in regions like Kazakhstan, which blocked it due to illegal content.

LiveJournal planned to expand, including opening a Kazakhstan office, to maintain and grow its user base.

LiveJournal's decline in popularity can be attributed to increasing censorship, Western social media influence, and rating system manipulation.

Title:

Content: Opinion: “Consolation ” – in another
18.04.2022, 23: 00, Miscellaneous
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The previous record was “frozen ” – this time literally an hour after publication.
The speed of censorship in LiveJournal is steadily increasing – it is impossible not to admit.
Really, it makes me unstoppably stupid.
Well, at least something in this country is growing.
And for the rest – there is my Telegram and FB.
Source: Reflections of a Free Sociologist
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Title:

Content: Opinion: Sber pulls LiveJournal
09.12.2021, 4: 30, Miscellaneous
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The lords of the vaxers have not long to endure the godless Shoemaker in LiveJournal.
The tendency to silence “too sharp ” topics, which I have already mentioned, is becoming clearer and clearer.
Still, it was not in vain that the change of ownership occurred, and LiveJournal passed into the hands of Comrade Gref and Sberbank.
Pay attention to my last 4 (!) posts about kovid - about Germany, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, etc.
None of them is not that “did not get to the top ” – God would be with him; all four were out of the LiveJournal rating at all.
It was as if they “didn ’ t notice ” them.
And it's funny - one still flew into the Top, and immediately in the top ten - and literally an hour later was hastily thrown out of it.
At the same time, from the rating in general.
It's censorship, my friends.
So far, as soft as possible.
I pay tribute to the old LJ - he resists as much as he can.
But no – the forces are too unequal, I understand.
The crazier and frankly ridiculous everything becomes – covid-statistics, the requirement to “vaccinate everyone ”, the rationale for“ the need for codification ”, etc. – the stronger will take control of social networks.
Moreover, they are clamped on two sides: Russian (VK, Zen, LiveJournal) will thin out censors from the government, Western (FB, YouTube, Instagram) do not need censors from the outside, they themselves are the embodiment of censorship.
The exception from the rating “completely ” is, of course, the mildest form of influence so far.
But, as Leo Tolstoy said, “By reducing the ideal by its weakness, one can never find the limit at which one should stop. ”
Source: Reflections of a Free Sociologist
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What happened when censorship was instituted on LiveJournal?

Objective rating mechanism was destroyed

What happened when censorship was instituted on LiveJournal?

Objective rating mechanism was destroyed

Sberbank's involvement in LiveJournal led to censorship and post removals, significantly impacting the platform's content.

The platform's technical infrastructure, including Perl, PostgreSQL, and Linux, supported its development but struggled with increasing demand.

Title:

Content: Linux PostgreSQL Oracle Perl Mojolicious
1.
Higher education.
2.
Extensive experience in enterprises providing Internet services.
3.
The main focus is DBMS.
PostgreSQL, Oracle.
Development, administration, backup.
4.
Administration of Linux servers.
5.
Development of web projects Perl, Mojolicious.
6.
Administration of networks of the level of the urban Internet provider.

Title:

Content: Services:
1.
Development of CMS, web services and web applications using technologies: PHP4, PHP5, HTML, CSS, XML, JavaScript, AJAX.
3.
Development of MySQL databases.
Professional knowledge:
Programming languages: PHP, JavaScript
Web technologies: PHP4, PHP5, HTML, CSS, XML, JavaScript, AJAX
DBMS: MySQL

LiveJournal's experience offers lessons for online communities, including investing in infrastructure, adapting to user needs, and prioritizing community engagement.

Title:

Content: 23 / 06 / 2023 - 13: 25
The rise and fall of social networking sites: major projects that have faded over the past years
In recent years, the Internet has seen the rapid rise and subsequent disappearance of social media platforms, which according to studies can be attributed to the failure to adapt to changing trends, privacy concerns, intense competition, and the emergence of more alternatives.
(Getty)
The rapid development of the digital age has brought many changes to the ways of communication over the past years, as the Internet world has witnessed the rise and fall of various communication sites, platforms that once flourished and flourished but eventually faded into oblivion.
In recent years, the Internet has seen the rapid rise and subsequent disappearance of social media platforms, which according to studies can be attributed to the failure to adapt to changing trends, privacy concerns, intense competition, and the emergence of more alternatives, which also indicate the rapid pace of technological progress and the need for continuous innovation.
MySpace has enjoyed unprecedented popularity during the mid-2000s, providing users with a platform to connect, share media and express themselves creatively, however, the decline of MySpace began when Facebook emerged as a dominant force in the social media landscape, studies show that MySpace failed to adapt to the changing preferences of their user base. This resulted in a loss of relevance and decreased user engagement.
Launched in 2004, Orkut was a pioneer in social networking, particularly in countries such as Brazil and India, and despite its early success, Orkut struggled to combat spam, privacy concerns and the rise of rival platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
As studies indicate, the lack of innovation and failure to address these issues eventually led to their demise in 2014, which also happened with the site "First Messenger" which was once an integral part of the lives of many people on the Internet, allowing users to communicate in real time and facilitate conversations and enhance communication between users. Like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, they have wiped out the site ’ s last hope of survival, amidst this massive and rapid technological development.
In 2011, Google Plus was launched, which was aimed at competing with Facebook and creating a social network within Google ’ s ecosystem, and despite the company ’ s vast resources, it failed to attract a large user base, which led to the fall of the application in 2019, which led to the company ’ s closure of the project due to a decline in the number of users.
In another example, Vine had gained immense popularity with its unique six-second videos, which served as a breeding ground for budding creators and led to numerous viral trends, however, Vine ’ s downfall is attributed to its failure to monetize content effectively, and the emergence of rival and powerful platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat.
Delicious is a harsh example of the fall of a social media platform, where the site faced major challenges due to the lack of effective monetization strategies, and the emergence of new competitors on the platform, which led to a sharp decline in the user base, and ultimately sold and re-launched, under new ownership.

The site's history highlights the challenges of transitioning from a niche community to a mainstream platform.

Title:

Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
After the amazing success...
Why did the Threads app fall?
The application "Threads" received a great interaction by social networking pioneers, celebrities and all users of this application at the beginning of its launch electronically, where it achieved a huge success within 7 hours after its release on the "App Store".
Threads was a strong competitor in its early days to other social networking sites, such as Facebook, the application "X" and "Instagram", especially after it signed up more than 30 million users in a full day.
The question remains, why did the popularity of Threads drop after it achieved so much overwhelming success within a few hours of its launch?
Among the reasons for the success of the application "Threads", it attracted attention from the first minute because of its ease of use and its link to the famous social networking site Instagram.
Why did the Threads app fall?
The application "Threads" about half of its users during the previous days, because of the lack of new features to attract the attention of its users, and it has become very similar with the rest of the usual social networking sites, it has become similar to the applications "Facebook" and "X" and "Instagram".
The application "Threads" offers the same capabilities that the pioneers of social media used to use, which is to launch publications through other applications or publish private images through the application, so it has lost popularity because it is very similar to its features and characteristics with the rest of the other sites and user.
How Threads caught the attention of social media pioneers
• In the first 7 hours: 10 million subscribers.
The figure rose to 30 million after 18 hours.
The number reached 100 million after 5 days.
The first week of the new platform ended with more than 109 million users.
By the 10th day, the number had exceeded 150 million.
• With the last record, the app broke the record in the fastest growing app ever.

LiveJournal's unique features and technical infrastructure significantly impacted its development and decline, offering valuable lessons for other online platforms.