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Why we have an emotional connection to robots

3,087,686 views |

Kate Darling |

TED Salon: Samsung

• September 2018

We're far from developing robots that feel emotions, but we already have feelings towards them, says robot ethicist Kate Darling, and an instinct like that can have consequences. Learn more about how we're biologically hardwired to project intent and life onto machines -- and how it might help us better understand ourselves.

We're far from developing robots that feel emotions, but we already have feelings towards them, says robot ethicist Kate Darling, and an instinct like that can have consequences. Learn more about how we're biologically hardwired to project intent and life onto machines -- and how it might help us better understand ourselves.

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Samsung. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.

About the speaker

Kate Darling

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Kate Darling investigates the relationship between humans and robots -- now, and in the future.

Patrick Lin, Ryan Jenkins, & Keith Abney (eds.) | MIT Press, 2012 Oxford University Press, 2017 | Book

Robot Ethics and Robot Ethics 2.0

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Ryan Calo, A. Michael Froomkin, Ian Kerr eds. | Edward Elgar, 2016 | Book

How should the law think about robots? This collection of work from a diverse group of legal scholars provides a groundbreaking examination of how robotic technology interacts with our current law and policy, and what may need to change. The challenges include how we assign responsibility for harm, recognizing the social meaning of robots, figuring out whether and how to automate law enforcement, and the laws of using robots in war.

Jake Schreier | Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2012 | Watch

Robot and Frank

A funny and both heartwarming and heartbreaking story that touches on many of the issues we’re likely to see in a near-term future of using household robots and robots to care for the elderly. Against Frank's wishes, his son buys him a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health. This movie didn’t make a huge splash despite winning awards and featuring an all-star cast (Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, etc.), but it is definitely worth a watch, especially if you're interested in robot ethics.

About TED Salon

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Read more about TED Salons

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Samsung. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.