logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2021
12m 15s

Why we have an emotional connection to r...

TED Tech
About this episode

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.

Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Everything you need to know about AI agents | Swami Sivasubramanian
What if you had an AI-powered assistant — that took initiative on its own? Technology leader Swami Sivasubramanian believes AI agents are the future of work, capable of sparking new levels of productivity and creativity. Demystifying the workings of autonomous software systems, h ... Show More
22m 50s
Feb 27
AI's next frontier isn't where you might expect | Hardy Pemhiwa
With a billion mobile phone users and a median population age of 19, Africa isn't catching up to the AI revolution — it's writing an entirely different playbook, says business leader Hardy Pemhiwa. He shows how a generation of entrepreneurs is using AI to teach classes, triage pa ... Show More
17m 16s
Feb 20
How we built Watch Duty, the lifesaving wildfire alert app | John Mills
After finding himself alone in an unreported wildfire in the woodlands of California, John Mills decided to take matters into his own hands. Hear the incredible story of how he rallied fire survivors and retired first responders to create Watch Duty, the nonprofit emergency alert ... Show More
10m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2019
Why we have an emotional connection to robots | Kate Darling
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 ... Show More
11m 58s
Sep 2021
Ruth Aylett and Patricia A. Vargas, "Living with Robots: What Every Anxious Human Needs to Know" (MIT Press, 2021)
There's a lot of hype about robots; some of it is scary and some of it utopian. In this accessible book, two robotics experts reveal the truth about what robots can and can't do, how they work, and what we can reasonably expect their future capabilities to be. It will not only ma ... Show More
1h 3m
Nov 2021
Robot as Threat
When a robot goes bad, who is responsible? It’s not always clear if the user or the manufacturer is liable when a robot leaves the lot. Human behavior can be complex—and often contradictory. Asking machines to interpret that behavior is quite the task. Will it one day be possible ... Show More
23m 11s
Jan 2024
Preserving Our Humanity In The Age Of Robots
Human beings are hardwired for social connection – so much so that we think of even the most basic objects as having feelings or experiences. (Yup, we're talking to you, Roomba owners!) Social robots add a layer to this. They're designed to make us feel like they're our friends. ... Show More
14m 21s
Nov 2021
Robot as Body
For years, prosthetic technology focused on form over function, on masking lost limbs, rather than agency and usability. But things are changing. Innovations in robotics are giving more people more options, with lower thresholds of entry—and lower price tags, too.  Tilly Lockey t ... Show More
22m 43s
Jul 2024
Next up for AI? Dancing robots | Catie Cuan
Would you tango with a robot? Inviting us into the fascinating world of dancing machines, robot choreographer Catie Cuan highlights why teaching robots to move with grace, intention and emotion is essential to creating AI-powered machines we will want to welcome into our daily li ... Show More
10m 39s
Mar 2023
Ist es gut, wenn Maschinen Gefühle triggern, Kenza Ait Si Abbou?
<p>Eigentlich weiß jeder Mensch: Roboter können nicht fühlen. Trotzdem kommt es immer wieder vor, dass Menschen sich emotional auf Maschinen einlassen. Mitarbeitende geben Robotern Namen wie zum Beispiel Robo und unterhalten sich mit Ihnen, wie häufig in der Pflege zu erleben. Ei ... Show More
41m 55s
Jul 2017
Could You Kill A Robot?
<p>Will we one day create machines that are essentially just like us? People have been wrestling with that question since the advent of robotics. But maybe we're missing another, even more intriguing question: what can robots teach us about ourselves? We ponder that question with ... Show More
32m 32s