We had an intense discussion about the use of robots as helpers, starting with some people’s experience with single function versions of this newly emerging technology. Robots now tend to be specialized with single functions – fetching and carrying, cleaning, putting things away for later retrieval, walking with you etc. Safety concern that such robots may run you over was raised. So were privacy threats from a device like Alexa that can hear everything said nearby. For a Robot to be truly helpful as a house-keeper, the home needs to be designed especially for it. The conversation also evolved into a recognition that advances in Machine Learning can enable these devices to serve us in very individualized ways over a wide range of functions. The possibility of a Robot serving as a companion that you could train to know you better than anyone else raised concerns again about privacy and some skepticism that a Robot could truly show empathy or have genuine wisdom. Others were concerned that some people would find such devices preferable to genuine human interactions – leading to the end of humanity as we know it

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