Will humanoid robots make us lazier and less empathetic?

Hey, this is a very interesting question, and one that many people are concerned about.

I don't think this can be generalized; it's more like a double-edged sword, and the key lies in how we use it.

First, regarding "laziness"

Have you ever considered that washing machines, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners have already liberated us from heavy household chores? But have we become "lazier" because of them?

• From one perspective, there is indeed this risk. If a person delegates all tasks that a robot can do to it, and then spends all day lying on the couch scrolling through their phone, they will certainly become lazier, and their physical fitness will decline. It's like having food delivery makes us too lazy to cook; ride-hailing apps make us too lazy to walk. Tools provide convenience, but abusing that convenience can lead to laziness.

• But from another perspective, this is more of a "liberation." Imagine robots handling repetitive, boring, or even dangerous tasks (like cleaning, working at heights, or handling chemicals). What can we do with the time we save?

  • We can spend more time with family and friends.
  • We can learn new skills, engage in creative pursuits like painting, writing, or learning a musical instrument.
  • We can have more energy to think and innovate, to do more valuable work that requires human wisdom and emotion.

So, humanoid robots are more like a "physical outsourcing" tool. Whether they make us lazy ultimately depends on how we choose to utilize the liberated time and energy. It's about whether we choose to be idle or to do more interesting and creative things.

Second, regarding "lack of empathy"

This point indeed requires more vigilance.

• The risk certainly exists. If we get used to giving orders to a "human-like" robot, treating it as an absolutely obedient, emotionless tool, or even venting our emotions on it, will this behavior pattern unconsciously affect how we interact with real people? Will we become more impatient, more self-centered? This is entirely possible, especially for children whose minds are not yet mature; the impact could be greater.

• But there are also other possibilities.

  1. Companionship and Comfort: For elderly people living alone or those with social difficulties, an interactive, caring robot could be a very good companion. It can provide emotional support and alleviate loneliness. In such cases, the robot actually acts as a "booster" for stimulating and maintaining human emotions. Many people have deep affection for their pet cats and dogs; it's not impossible to develop similar feelings for a more intelligent, interactive robot.
  2. Distinction between Tool and Person: Most adults can actually clearly distinguish between a "tool" and a "real person." We might bang on the table when our computer crashes, but we wouldn't treat an engineer who fixes our computer in the same way. The key lies in societal guidance and our own moral bottom line. We need to establish a set of ethical norms for interacting with robots, just as we teach children to care for their toys and not to abuse animals.
  3. Liberating Emotional Energy: When we no longer struggle for a living or are bothered by trivial matters, we might have more "emotional bandwidth" to care for those around us, to empathize with their joys and sorrows.

To summarize my view:

Humanoid robot technology itself is neutral. It's like a mirror, ultimately reflecting ourselves.

• Whether it makes us lazy depends on whether we have enough self-discipline and ambition.
• Whether it makes us lack empathy depends on whether we can uphold our moral bottom line and establish new social ethics.

The future is not passively accepted; it's actively shaped by us. Instead of worrying about being "corrupted" by robots, it's better to start thinking and discussing now: what kind of future society do we want to create, one where we coexist with robots?