Friendship Between Human Beings and AI Robots?

Abstract

In this chapter the case for potential Robophilia is based upon the positive properties and powers deriving from humans and AI co-working together in synergy. Hence, Archer asks ‘Can Human Beings and AI Robots be Friends?’ The need to foreground social change for structure culture and agency is being stressed. Human enhancement speeded up with medical advances with artificial insertions in the body, transplants, and genetic modification. In consequence, the definition of ‘being human’ is carried further away from naturalism and human essentialism. With the growing capacities of AI robots the tables are turned and implicitly pose the question, ‘so are they not persons too?’ Robophobia dominates Robophilia, in popular imagination and academia. With AI capacities now including ‘error-detection’, ‘self-elaboration of their pre-programming’ and ‘adaptation to their environment’, they have the potential for active collaboration with humankind, in research, therapy and care. This would entail synergy or co-working between humans and AI beings.