Against Imaginary Friends
Robert Sparrow1, Monash University Clayton2, Clayton Victoria 1Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia2ARC CoE for Automated Decision-Making and Society, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Abstract
For several decades now, some people have advocated providing older persons with social robots to combat loneliness and social isolation. This project has been criticised as disrespectful, even harmful, to older persons. It has also, to date, failed because social robots remain expensive, clunky, and not that entertaining. However, a new technology, “digital humans”, looks more plausible from a technological perspective, with the prospect of realistically animated computer-generated characters capable of convincing natural language conversation just around the corner. In this paper, I extend the criticisms that have been made of social robots to digital humans and also identify new dangers associated with the use of digital humans. Giving a digital human to someone who lives alone does not mean that they no longer live alone: they remain social isolated, albeit with a digital human to entertain them. Providing people with imaginary friends is no solution to social isolation. Indeed, there is a real danger that this technology will instead lead to people having less contact with other human beings. It is possible that relationships with digital humans will allow people to feel less lonely. However, this will almost certainly require that users allow themselves to be deceived about the nature of their digital companion. Encouraging people to mistake imaginary friends for real friends is prima facie unethical. Proposals to use digital humans to combat loneliness and social isolation also underestimate the importance of touch, physical companionship, and mutual aid, when it comes to human well-being, especially in later life.
Biography
Rob Sparrow is a Professor in the Philosophy Program, and an Associate Investigator in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society, at Monash University, where he works on ethical issues raised by new technologies.