"Aiko"-- bravely tripping over the Uncanny Valley

[roseembolism]

So there was a bit of fuss over Le Trung, the man from Toronto who's trying to construct a robotic maid. Evidently the assumption is that the intent is to make himself a robotic girlfriend, even though the inventor insists his robot "Aiko" it would be made primarily for assisting old people or invalids. At least that's what the Globe and Mail article says. Admittedly, it doesn't help his case, that in spite of his protestations, he is willing to answer all-too intimate questions on  Aiko's anatomy, and he evidently used as a base what suspiciously sounds like a Realdoll.  So naturally, the internet reaction hasn't been very pleasant: as one poster said contemptuously, ""Has there been any progress in AI at all? That is just a glorified chatbot."

Hum.

Unfortunately, there's more than a few people out there who would WANT a glorified chatbot. One with attachments for sex. And who could fix dinner and clean the house without complaining, without having the needs and desires that a human companion would have.  And frankly, it that keeps those people out of the dating pool, I see no downside.
 

But let's look beyond the tawdry sex toy element of this whole affair, and take Le Trung at his word, that Aiko is designed for things like helping the elderly.  Sadly, I can actually see how it would be very helpful in that capacity; given the state of our elder care, there's more than a few people who may actually need a glorified chatbot.  One with attachments for giving them pills and helping them up after they've fallen.  That need is only goin g to increase as the baby-boomers begin to need full-time care, and the nuclear family continues to disintegrate.  If you can't rely on children to take care of you in your dotage, a robot, especially a pleasant-looking and sounding one might seem like an attractive option.
 

Now, does anyone want to speculate how many Metafilter, Livejournal, Blogspot and other internet pundits are going to end up all alone in a warehouse-style nursing home, bedridden, with almost no human contact?  With just a nursebot to medicate and clean up after them?
 

...and of course their full-sensory, 360-degree holographic game consoles, and their 24-7 connection to their World of Warcraft accounts.

Comments

[mithriltabby]

I think it’s an excellent technology of natural selection. Create a sufficiently good sexbot and you’ll do wonders for the gene pool.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately genetics doesn't work that way. socially adept parents may have a socially inept child, and vice-versa.

Now what it may have a major effect on is social evolution and the dating pool. At first only the socially dysfunctional would likely want a sexbot, removing them from the likelihood of starting a bad relationship with someone else (come on, hasn't everyone dated someone where you've suspected they'd rather just have sex with something that doesn't want a conversation?).

Later on, as they become cheaper and more socially accepted, it may have a major effect on relationships and dating, since if someone only wants a compliant sex partner, it may be easier to get a sexbot than go through the time and effort of a real relationship.

Of course this won't change the people who get their jollies out of dominating or screwing over real people, but all this may have a beneficial effect on the dating and relationship scene. IN the end, only the people who really want to be in a real relationship will look for one. Which, naturally, is why social conservatives will object strenuously to the whole idea.

[ghilledhu.livejournal.com]

I'm getting flashbacks to the Futurama episode with the 50s-style documentary video about how dating robots led to the destruction of earth: "Don't! Date! Robots!"

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen that episode yet. I really need to get caught up on Futurama.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I'm betting we're no more than a decade away from fairly advanced (if also damn creepy) sexbots/chatbots. I'm also guessing that as the chatbot programming gets better, there will be people who honestly fall in love with these things - admittedly, they will almost exclusively very sad and social awkward people.

Of course, 15+ years after that, I'm betting that we may start seeing the first actual AIs, which makes the question of human robot love far more complex.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

I think you're right. I'd almost say we're only five years away, since most of the elements are there, it's only assembling them that's needed. Still, with production cycle and development times, I'd say ten years is a safe bet. For various obvious reasons, I think male sexbots will take longer to be developed than female ones.

And yes of course people will fall in love with their sexchatbots. I mean, givenn that there are people right now who claim they are in love with their realdolls. And aren't we glad they aren't saying the same thing about a human partner?

I think true AI is kind of like fusion- it's going to be around the corner for quite a while. I would not actually be at all surprised if AI remains at the same state within my lifetime. NOte this is true AI- advanced expert systems will seem to blur the line to the casual observer.

Now what will likely come on line within five years after sexchatbots, will be real-time link to umm...operators. It would be like cybering, only with a prop or two, and will probably open up new realms of the sex business. And if you'll excuse me now, I have to go wash my brain out with soap.