By: Eric Xu
In Bakersfield, California, on July 22, 2023, new technology has been introduced which could change everything. Multiple robots inhabit the home of Audrey and Ken Mattlin alongside their owners. This new technology may be able to help reduce stress and loneliness and help take care of elders and children but also may have some issues, such as dependability and safety.
New robots that can interact with humans can help reduce stress and loneliness. Many people are plagued with loneliness and isolation. Robots can help solve that issue! They can interact with humans like actual friends and have the ability to contact others depending on whatever other issues their companions have. Unlike friends, they can be mass-produced and sent all around the world. They are not very cheap, but they are improving in quality and price with every new model!
Many children and elders are vulnerable to outside threats, but robots can help with that. Many elders need protection if someone tries to break into their houses. Robots may not be able to directly stop the thief, but they have access to the internet. They can call the police, which might be fast enough to catch the thief or burglar. If a child is doing something they are not supposed to do, like light a match, a robot can stop them or contact others. Not only that, but they can also “help children with autism and older adults with dementia” (La Times, 2023) They can identify problems such as “slurring your words or not using as big a vocabulary as you were a month ago, which can be early signs of dementia, and process information for a healthcare provider.” (La Times, 2023) This a great way to help keep people healthy and active, and may be a good way to address all these issues!
Even though there are many benefits to having robots, there might also be downsides. Robots might have many human-like qualities, but humans are still different from robots. Robots are made with a script of code, and talking to a robot may not have the same effect as talking to a normal human being. It is only designed to do certain things, and “they’re not sophisticated and personalized enough to address individual needs.” (La Times, 2023) Another article also states, “There are no guarantees that you will be satisfied with the quality of the robots’ service.” (Vanderblue, 2023) These facts may question the robots’ quality, but there is also another issue that may be more important than that: security.
Security concerns play a huge role in buying robots. With the extremely high prices of them, it is difficult for people to gauge their worth with security issues. There is a chance that the robots may be hacked and steal private information. This was proven in a research test, which found “some robots have flaws that could make them vulnerable to advanced hackers.” (The Print, 2023) This is dangerous, and many believe that this is not worth the benefits provided by these robots. Not only that, but robots may cause their owners to be too reliant on them, instead of other people. This may tear relationships apart, and ruin people’s lives.
Family robot technology has already been used in multiple places and continues to spread. Even though there are many benefits to owners, there are also some major concerns with them. They could be a solution to many problems or just a new problem that may lead to more issues.