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In 2015, a cheerful three-foot-tall robot equipped with pool noodles for arms embarked on what appeared to be a straightforward journey. This machine, known as “hitchBOT,” aimed to hitchhike across the continental United States relying solely on the goodwill of strangers. Unfortunately, it only managed to travel 300 miles before its adventure was cut short. Just two weeks into its trip, hitchBOT was discovered abandoned in Philadelphia, its head detached and its noodle-like arms torn from its bucket-shaped torso.
“It was quite a setback that we didn’t anticipate,” remarked hitchBOT co-creator Frauke Zeller in an interview with CNN at that time .
The unfortunate fate of hitchBOT is not an isolated incident. For years, people have taken pleasure in kicking, punching, tripping over, crushing, and even running over anything resembling a robot. This inclination towards robotic violence could shift from amusing to alarming as new humanoid robots are developed for collaboration with humans in various industries. However, emerging research indicates that we might be more inclined to empathize with our mechanical companions if they exhibit signs of human-like distress. In essence, had hitchBOT been programmed to plead for mercy during its ordeal, it may have received kinder treatment.
Humans Experience Guilt When Robots Suffer
Marieke Wieringa from Radboud University Nijmegen conducted intriguing experiments examining how individuals responded when asked to violently shake a test robot. In some scenarios where participants shook the robot without any reaction from it and others where the robot emitted sorrowful sounds or displayed enlarged “eyes” suggesting sadness were compared. The findings revealed that participants felt significantly guiltier when the robot exhibited emotional responses.
In another experiment designed by Wieringa’s team, participants faced a choice between completing an uninteresting task or shaking the responsive robot vigorously; they opted for shaking when it remained silent but chose instead to finish their tasks when confronted with pitiful sounds from the machine.
“Most individuals had no qualms about shaking a mute robot; however once it began emitting distressful noises they preferred completing their mundane task instead,” Wieringa stated regarding her research which she will defend as part of her PhD thesis at Radboud University this November.
These results build upon earlier studies indicating that people tend to treat robots more kindly if they display human-like characteristics or narratives about their personalities and experiences.
For instance,participants were less likely to strike a hammer against robots possessing backstories detailing their supposed lives.
Additionally,test subjects showed increased friendliness towards humanoid-shaped robots after experiencing virtual reality simulations allowing them insight into these machines’ perspectives.
Additionally,research suggests humans are more willing
The Various Methods of Human Abuse Towards Machines
Human beings have long engaged in venting frustrations on lifeless objects—be it parking meters or malfunctioning vending machines—often attributing human-like traits onto these everyday items—a phenomenon termed “
‘Now ,with consumer-grade robotics becoming increasingly prevalent within urban environments , some exuberant attacks are occurring right out on city streets . Autonomous vehicles operated by Waymo and Cruise have recently experienced incidents involving vandalism including tire slashingand other forms damage . One Waymo vehicle even suffered destruction via fire earlier this yearduring such acts!
‘In San Francisco specifically residents reported knocking down Knightscope K9 patrol bots deployed by local shelters monitoring unhoused populations while also smearing them fecesafter deployment!The company previously informed Popular Science about one instance where an intruder fleeing healthcare center intentionally ran over one of their units! Food delivery bots operating across multiple cities also face similar fates being kicked over & vandalized. Recently,a $3000 AI-powered sex doll showcased at tech fair Austria required repairs after attendees reportedly left heavily soiled!
‘However perhaps most notorious examples stem from Boston Dynamics now owned by Hyundai who has created some world’s most advanced quadrupedal & bipedal models partly through subjecting them countless hours abuse! Popular YouTube videos depict engineers kicking Spot bot while harassing Atlas humanoid model using weighted medicine balls.
‘Research attempting understand actual motivations behind why people seem enjoy abusing robotic entities has yielded mixed results.In higher stakes situations involving autonomous vehicles factory machinery these automated tools serve reminders potential job loss economic hardships stemming automation.On other hand researchers like Agnieszka Wykowska Cognitive Neuroscientist Italian Institute Technology suggest non-human nature machines triggers odd anthropological tribal response.
“You possess agent—the Robot—that exists different category than humans,” said Wykowska during interview New York Times back 2019.”Thus you easily engage psychological mechanism social ostracization since it’s considered out-group member.This raises important discussions surrounding dehumanization despite fact they’re not actually human beings.”
‘Regardless our apparent tendency toward mistreatments could complicate further integration public life.As companies such Figure Tesla envision future wherein upright bipedal devices collaborate alongside us factories perform household chores possibly even care children—all predictions remain largely theoretical success failure ultimately hinges trickery psychology convincing us feel pity towards machine akin person.’
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