[DemonRaven]

I saw a story a while back that said they  did some studies and found that humans are actually more leery of human like robots and androids. This was the story on it Study: People dislike human-like social robots because they threaten our identity - https://ispr.info/2016/02/10/study-people-dislike-human-like-social-robots-because-they-threaten-our-identity/

There was also a story on one guy who ran a ad and wanted to watch you umm have fun shall we say with his robot (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/most-bizarre-online-ad-ever-7271112).

Both reactions are extreme. I personally do not mind robots as long as they are  not creating massive unemployment or marching down our streets with guns. The idea of a perfect partner (robot) however bothers me. Relationships with other people are  by their very nature messy and complicated. Not many people could compete with a robot. While I think that it would never become so accepted that we risk extinction via lack of births,  it still is a unrealistic relationship. Such a relationship could actually backfire and make you less understanding/empathetic with others behaviours and views.

I have a similar view of future virtual dates. I read a story that said in the future we may be able to go on virtual dates and feel like we are there and see, hear and smell things as though we are really there. Frankly I think that we isolate to much as it is  via all the cell phones, internet etc. The last thing we need is a world where we do not need to leave the house. You are totally asking for all kinds of health problems doing less. You are also creating more shallow people who expect everyone to look like their virtual avatar. Human bodies are not perfect by any means. Perfect anything is not always better.

I can understand how some of those things could come about. After all more distance between you and some one else could feel safer. Having a perfect partner might alleviate some of the stress of a relationship. But is it really better? Can a robot truly be a better partner or is it just setting you up for unrealistic expectations of others. Would a virtual avatar look really be better or would it set you up for self loathing because your body does not measure up to it in real life. We need to think twice about getting too caught up in the upcoming technologies. To much of a good thing can be very bad.

[Freddy]

Good points Sheryl. Have you seen the movie Surrogates it covers this aspect quite well, I enjoyed it anyway.

[DemonRaven]

Ya I saw it. I am a scifi fan. It is where I get a lot of my ideas. Even though some scifi is slammed as portraying AI and robots in a negative light it does never the less spotlight potential problems. It is also interesting in that a lot of technology is created from ideas gotten from scifi.

[Art]

@ Sheryl -  "While I think that it would never become so accepted that we risk extinction via lack of births,  it still is a unrealistic relationship."

I have to disagree with this for several reasons.

Look at all those people playing a number of Social Engineered games like Second Life, Europa, or other VR Universes. They use Avatars whether or not actually resembling them or not even close. A man could masquerade as a woman and no one else would know. I've heard of people carrying on discussions with a bot for quite a time before they finally realized it or simply got tired and moved on.

There are huge demands for chatbots, robots, androids, humanoids and companion bots and dolls of all types. It has often been said that it is easier to talk to a complete stranger than a family member, especially if something is of a pressing personal nature. (I guess that's why psychiatrists do so well).

In this vein of thinking, it also makes sense that some people don't want a commitment or long term relationship entailing human issues, especially those emotional ones. Bots would be a likely choice. Then would be great listeners, loyal, not swayed by your friends nor have some gender or political or racial or social agendas. They would be a friend, companion, help-mate, someone there to play games with or have discussions on a variety of topics, without judging you or belittling you.

We know Hollywood has made a living of making Sci-Fi movies about robots and human connections and interactions, some of which were made decades ago. What starts as Science Fiction usually ends up as Science Fact.

There have been quite a surprising number of books written by some very educated people proclaiming that living with bots (you decide which type) in our near future is not only possible but very probable! 'Near Future' in this example might be within 50 years or maybe even sooner so get your house in order...they're coming....