TED Tech Are we still human if robots help raise our babies? | Sarah Blaffer Hrdy (Kelly Corrigan takeover)
Jul 4, 2025
In this engaging talk, renowned evolutionary anthropologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy examines the impact of AI on parenting and human empathy. She discusses how shared childcare shaped our humanity and raises thought-provoking questions about technology's role in future caregiving. Hrdy emphasizes the importance of community support in child development and the potential loss of empathy if robots take on parenting roles. Listeners are invited to reflect on the intersection of technology and emotional connections, crucial for our evolving understanding of attachment.
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Alloparental Care Shapes Humanity
- Human babies evolved to depend on care from multiple caregivers, not just their mother.
- Shared childcare helped our species survive and shape social brain circuits.
Responsive Care Defines Attachment
- Babies flexibly attach to whoever responds to them, even robots if responsive enough.
- Early social engagement lays foundations for empathy and cooperation in humans.
Baby Bonding with MomBot
- The audience gasped seeing a baby make eye contact with a mom bot in Sarah's talk.
- Babies respond powerfully to whoever responds to them, human or machine.