The Rise of

Robot
Friendship
Ethical Dilemmas in Science and
Technology
ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SCIENCE AND 2021
TECHNOLOGY

What is
Robot
Friendship?

it is an enhanced system that reads analyzes

the user's friend's or love one's post and
previous messages to create a chatbot
version wherein the user can communicate
through or as we call it "build friendship".

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ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SCIENCE AND 2021
TECHNOLOGY

Does it exist in the

present time?
"With me" an app similar to robot friendship
In an effort to help mourners 'overcome their wounded-
heart,' a South Korean company has released an app that
allows users to take pictures and communicate with avatars
of their deceased friends or family members. (Libatore,
2017)
Development of a technology that creates
chatbots of dead loved ones
Hossein Rahnama of Ryerson University and the MIT Media
Lab is working on chatbots made from a person's digital
record, which includes emails, messages, tweets, and even
snapchats. (Matei, 2017)
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TECHNOLOGY

Motivations behind the

creation
"HELP INDIVIDUALS MOVE ON AND
CREATE MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST
FOREVER "
The creators say that developing these technologies
would aid mourning individuals or families in
communicating with the deceased as part of their
grieving process. Furthermore, the "With me"
technology lets users to take a selfie with the
departed, allowing for more memories to be created.

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ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SCIENCE AND 2021
TECHNOLOGY

Other similar apps

Replika
Replika, a San Francisco-based business, is
one of an increasing number of bots that use
artificial intelligence (AI) to fulfill human need
for companionship. Designed to be suitable
with anyone looking for a buddy without having
to deal with social anxiety while still forming an
emotional bond.

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ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SCIENCE AND 2021
TECHNOLOGY

Ethical
Dilemmas of the
issue

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ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SCIENCE AND 2021
TECHNOLOGY

1. Invading Privacy. Exposing someone's

identity for the sake of own comfort from
one's affliction.
2. Emotional and Psychological harm. The
inability of the users to pass the natural
process of grieving or worse being trap in
the state of denial.
3. Ruin sociability. Building a deep emotional
bond with an artificial product and eventually
becoming emotionally dependent on it may
lead to unrealistic social expectations and
disappointment.

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ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SCIENCE AND 2021
TECHNOLOGY

GIVING OUT HANDFUL OF PERSONAL

INFORMATION
This includes confidential information just to create a more
realistic response from someone.

Factors that EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY FROM MOURNING

Making irrational and immediate decisions resulting to anomalies

led to this or harm.

dilemma
GOING BEYOND REACH
Using the technology beyond its capacity, for example, using it
to revive commitments, special relationships, or arguments.

SPENDING SO MUCH TIME COMMUNICATING

Any form of dependency may happen when this factor may not
taken to account.

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ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SCIENCE AND 2021
TECHNOLOGY

Societal impacts
that led to this
dilemma
Social anxiety
Due to past experiences, it can be
difficult to make social relationships or
feel anxiety while interacting with a
specific person.
Unacceptance of death especially with
someone with whom they share strong
personal connections
Individuals feeling lonely and isolated

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ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN SCIENCE AND 2021
TECHNOLOGY

Why is it important to question this

moral and ethical issue?
Human emotions, a very abstract and fundamental human response to situations, have been
understood by technology. As a result, it is only right that we reassess the ethical
boundaries we allow ourselves to cross. For example, death is a natural but tragic event in
our lives that everyone must cope with in order to comprehend change and grow
psychologically and emotionally. Inability to process such natural phenomena may lead to
more serious unforeseen consequences.

Importance of studying STS in

this dilemma
STS, let us see the technology through a societal scope. Studying STS would
allow people to examine technology based on our ethical standards, eventually,
we can set limits and control on these innovations.

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