In neuroscience, studies using functional MRI imaging have shown that when people interact with robots, there is an uncanny valley reaction where certain lines get crossed in the brain regarding the robot's liveliness. This reaction is deeply rooted in psychology, causing a spooky and murky area in human psychology. Research indicates that feelings of uncanniness are triggered by attributing human-like mental qualities to robots.
Shermer and Herold discuss: social robots, sex robots, robot nannies, robot therapists • flying cars, jetpacks and The Jetsons • Masahiro Mori • emotions, animism, mind • emotional intelligence • artificial intelligence • large language lodels • ChatGPT, GPT-4, GPT-5 and beyond • the alignment problem • robopocalypse • robo soldiers • robot sentience • autonomous vehicles • AI value systems, and their legal and ethical status.
Eve Herold is an award-winning science writer. She has written extensively about issues at the crossroads of science and society, including stem cell research and regenerative medicine, aging and longevity, medical implants, transhumanism, and robotics and AI.