Robots

Upon reading this article, there were two questions that were mentioned that stuck out to me particularly: "Is there a danger with emotional attachments to robots?" as well as "Is there anything essential in human companionship and relationships that robots cannot replace?" The reason these two questions stood out to me was because I had never really considered the possibility that humans could become very attached to robots, and even potentially be okay with replacing human interaction with robot interaction. Perhaps this may be because I personally have not yet encountered any robots I could become attached to or depend on so heavily. However, remembering the movie Big Hero 6, I can see how emotional attachment to robots may become a possibility in the real world. In Big Hero 6, the main character Hiro is devastated when Tadashi, his older brother dies in a fire accident. The only thing that brings him out of his depression is Baymax, the health care robot invented by Tadashi to take care of Hiro. Throughout the movie, Baymax reminds us several times that he is "just a robot." However, through its interaction with Hiro and his friends, it is impossible to dismiss Baymax as just a piece of coded machinery, especially at the end when it sacrifices itself to save Hiro. Afterwards, Hiro is once again in despair upon losing what he considered to be his best friend. In the end, Hiro builds another body for Baymax in which he inserts the same software from the previous Baymax, and the movie ends on a happy note. 
To answer the first question regarding emotional attachment to robots, if robot technology advanced as far as creating robots similar to Baymax, I do think that there is some danger in becoming attached to them to that extent. While nobody is to blame for such emotional attachment, and just as human friends can also get sick, leave, or die as robots can be destroyed, I believe the pain experienced from the loss of a real life Baymax would be equally as devastating as losing a human friend or animal companion. Nonetheless, just as we may choose to adopt an old cat while aware of its inevitable death, I believe that because we would still be choosing to bring such a companion into our lives while knowing the risks and stakes, one could not justify emotional attachment to be a legitimate danger or reason to not produce/sell such robots. 
Regarding the second question of any essential qualities in human relationships that cannot be replaced by robots, I believe that no matter how human-like a robot may be in terms of emotional connection, the fact that I would know that all of its phrases, actions, and responses were all coded by someone else and not generated from the robot's innate being, would bother me to some extent. Thus, I do believe that no matter how advanced a robot is, I would not treat it that same as I would treat a human being. But once again, perhaps that is because we have not reached a point where robots possess their own sense of innate self yet. 



http://newatlas.com/big-hero-6/36122/


http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2498688,00.asp