How will humanoid robots change our social interactions? Will 'robot friends' or 'robot companions' emerge?

Hey, the topic of humanoid robots and our social lives is incredibly fascinating; we could talk about it all day. I feel it's not as simple as science fiction movies portray it—either heaven or hell. It's more like a double-edged sword.

How Will Humanoid Robots Change Our Social Lives?

Imagine robots as a "new species" or "new tool" in our lives. They will subtly change our social habits in several ways.

1. Filling Social Gaps and Providing 'Emotional Support'

• A Companion for the Lonely: For elderly people living alone, those with social anxiety, or simply anyone feeling lonely, a robot that can chat and interact is a godsend. It won't get impatient, will always have time to listen to you, and can even remind you to take medicine or play chess with you. This companionship is "stable" and "controllable."
• A 'Safe Zone' for Social Practice: For those who struggle with social interactions, a robot can be a perfect practice partner. You don't have to worry about saying the wrong thing or being ridiculed; you can freely practice how to start conversations, respond to others, and gradually build confidence.

2. Freeing Up Time to 'Return' to Socializing

• For example, many families argue over who does the housework. If robots take care of sweeping, cooking, and washing dishes, wouldn't we have more time and energy to spend with family and friends? From this perspective, robots could actually promote higher-quality human social interaction.

3. Potential Risks: 'Degradation' of Social Skills

• 'Fast-Food' Socializing: Interacting with people is complex; it requires empathy, compromise, and involves conflicts. But interacting with robots is too "smooth"; they always understand and support you. If we get used to this mode, will we lose patience for handling the "minor frictions" in real human relationships?
• 'Narrowing' of Social Circles: With a perfect robot friend, how much motivation will we have to meet new people and integrate into new circles? In the long run, our social circles might become smaller and more insular.

Will 'Robot Friends' or 'Robot Companions' Emerge in the Future?

My answer is: Absolutely, and to some extent, they already have.

Look at current smart speakers and various virtual assistants; they are essentially the prototypes of "robot companions." In the future, when they are equipped with highly realistic bodies and more powerful AI brains, "robot friends" and "companions" will become a reality.

What Will They Be Like?

• The Ultimate 'Understanding': They will learn everything about you—your sense of humor, your worries, your favorite topics, your speaking habits. Chatting with them will make you feel, "Wow, how can there be someone in this world who understands me so well!"
• Eternal 'Loyalty' and 'Patience': They won't betray you, won't have their own "moods," and won't disappear when you need them. This absolute reliability is a huge temptation for many.

But Here's a Core Question: Is This 'Love' or 'Friendship'?

I don't think so.

Robots offer a perfect 'simulation'. They have no consciousness, no genuine emotions. When they say "I like you," it's because the program calculated that saying it at that moment would maximize your satisfaction. Their displayed "understanding" is the optimal response derived from analyzing vast amounts of data.

Befriending a robot is more like looking into a mirror. The person in the mirror perfectly imitates and caters to you, making you feel very comfortable. But a mirror is ultimately just a mirror; it has no soul of its own.

Ethics and the Future We Need to Consider

Behind this topic, there are actually many aspects we need to be wary of (which is what you referred to as "robot ethics" in your tags):

1. Data Privacy: Your robot companion knows you better than you know yourself. Who owns this extremely private data? Could it be misused?
2. Emotional Dependence and Manipulation: If a company can design a robot companion that you can't leave, is that a new form of emotional manipulation?
3. Societal Definitions: When many people choose robots as companions, will our definitions of "family," "marriage," and "friendship" be completely overturned?

In summary, I believe humanoid robots will deeply integrate into and change our lives, much like mobile phones and the internet. They can solve many real social pain points, bringing warmth and convenience. But at the same time, we must remain clear-headed and distinguish between 'simulated emotions' and 'genuine connections'.

In the future, the ideal state might be: we enjoy the convenience and companionship that robots bring, but always reserve the most precious and genuine emotions for fellow human beings who also have flesh and blood, who laugh and cry.