Do we really react emotionally to AI?

In the latest episode of the Ethics Untangled Podcast, Jim Baxter talks to Rebecca Wallbank to explore what counts as a ‘genuine’ emotion, whether our responses to AI differ from our responses to fiction, and what it means to say that these emotions might be profound. Together, Jim and Rebecca explore whether people can really have genuine emotional reactions to artificial intelligence. Many of us already feel things towards AIs – whether that’s frustration with a chatbot, affection for a companion robot, or even comfort in talking to a virtual assistant – but should we take these emotions seriously?

61. Do we really react emotionally to AI? With Rebecca Wallbank - Ethics Untangled

In this episode, we’re asking whether people can really have genuine emotional reactions to artificial intelligence. Many of us already feel things towards AIs – whether that’s frustration with a chatbot, affection for a companion robot, or even c…

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Ethics Untangled is produced by IDEA, The Ethics Centre at the University of Leeds.

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