Why we have an emotional connection to robots | Kate Darling

Translator: Joseph Geni Reviewer: Krystian Aparta

譯者: Wilde Luo 審譯者: NAN-KUN WU

There was a day, about 10 years ago,

10 年前的某一天，

when I asked a friend to hold a baby dinosaur robot upside down.

我叫我的一個朋友 倒著抓住一只恐龍寶寶機器人。

It was this toy called a Pleo that I had ordered,

這是我訂購的玩具，叫做「普里奧」，

and I was really excited about it because I've always loved robots.

我對此很興奮，因為 我對機器人情有獨鍾。

And this one has really cool technical features.

這隻機器人使用了很酷的技術。

It had motors and touch sensors

它裝備了一些馬達和觸摸感應器，

and it had an infrared camera.

以及一個紅外線攝影機。

And one of the things it had was a tilt sensor,

此外，它還有一個傾斜感應器，

so it knew what direction it was facing.

所以它知道自己面對的方向。

And when you held it upside down,

當你倒過來抓住它，

it would start to cry.

它會開始哭。

And I thought this was super cool, so I was showing it off to my friend,

我覺得這真是酷斃了， 所以我自豪地向朋友展示它，

and I said, "Oh, hold it up by the tail. See what it does."

我說：「噢，抓它的尾巴， 吊著它，看它會怎麽樣。」

So we're watching the theatrics of this robot

然後我們看著這隻機器人

struggle and cry out.

裝模作樣地掙扎和哭喊。

And after a few seconds,

幾秒鐘之後，

it starts to bother me a little,

它開始令我心煩，

and I said, "OK, that's enough now.

我說：「好了，夠了。

Let's put him back down."

我們放下它。」

And then I pet the robot to make it stop crying.

接着我安撫這隻機器人， 讓它平靜下來。

And that was kind of a weird experience for me.

這件事讓我感覺十分怪異。

For one thing, I wasn't the most maternal person at the time.

一方面，我在那時 並不如母親一般慈愛。

Although since then I've become a mother, nine months ago,

直到九個月前，我成為了母親，

and I've learned that babies also squirm when you hold them upside down.

我才知道原來寶寶在被 倒著抓住時也會掙扎扭動。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But my response to this robot was also interesting

但是我對這隻機器人的 反應也耐人尋味，

because I knew exactly how this machine worked,

因為，即使我對這臺 機器的工作原理一清二楚，

and yet I still felt compelled to be kind to it.

但我仍然情不自禁地 對它生出惻隱之心。

And that observation sparked a curiosity

這個觀察結果激起了我的好奇心，

that I've spent the past decade pursuing.

讓我在過去這十年不斷探究：

Why did I comfort this robot?

為什麼我會安撫這隻機器人？

And one of the things I discovered was that my treatment of this machine

我的其中一個發現就是： 我對這臺機器的所作所為

was more than just an awkward moment in my living room,

不僅僅只是客廳裡一個尷尬的 小插曲，它說明了更多東西。

that in a world where we're increasingly integrating robots into our lives,

在如今，我們的生活 與機器人日益親密無間，

an instinct like that might actually have consequences,

類似上述行為的本能 可能會造成實在的影響，

because the first thing that I discovered is that it's not just me.

因為我的第一個發現就是： 我不是唯一一個這樣做的人。

In 2007, the Washington Post reported that the United States military

2007 年，華盛頓郵報報導， 美國軍方正在測試

was testing this robot that defused land mines.

一種拆除地雷的機器人。

And the way it worked was it was shaped like a stick insect

它是這樣工作的： 它的形狀類似於竹節蟲，

and it would walk around a minefield on its legs,

它會用自己的「腿」在雷區附近移動。

and every time it stepped on a mine, one of the legs would blow up,

每一次踩到地雷， 它都會被炸掉一隻腿，

and it would continue on the other legs to blow up more mines.

然後它會用其它的「腿」 繼續移動，引爆更多的地雷。

And the colonel who was in charge of this testing exercise

那位負責這項測試工作的上校

ends up calling it off,

最終取消了它。

because, he says, it's too inhumane

因為他說，看著這些傷痕累累的機器人

to watch this damaged robot drag itself along the minefield.

在雷區掙扎前行實在是慘無人道。

Now, what would cause a hardened military officer

那麽，又是什麼讓這位老練的軍官

and someone like myself

以及像我這樣的人

to have this response to robots?

對機器人做出這種反應？

Well, of course, we're primed by science fiction and pop culture

當然，我們受科幻小說 和流行文化的影響，

to really want to personify these things,

已經躍躍欲試要將這些事物人格化，

but it goes a little bit deeper than that.

但還不止於此。

It turns out that we're biologically hardwired to project intent and life

事實證明，對於身邊任何 看來像是自發做出的動作，

onto any movement in our physical space that seems autonomous to us.

生物天性決定了我們 會為其賦予意圖和生命。

So people will treat all sorts of robots like they're alive.

所以人們會把各種各樣的 機器人當成生命對待。

These bomb-disposal units get names.

這些炸彈處理單位被賦予了名字。

They get medals of honor.

它們被授予了榮譽勛章。

They've had funerals for them with gun salutes.

在它們的葬禮上，人們以禮炮致敬。

And research shows that we do this even with very simple household robots,

研究表明，甚至對於構造簡單的 家用機器人，我們也是如此，

like the Roomba vacuum cleaner.

例如「Roomba 吸塵器機器人」。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

It's just a disc that roams around your floor to clean it,

它只是一個圓盤， 在地板上遊蕩並打掃，

but just the fact it's moving around on its own

但僅因為它自己四處移動，

will cause people to name the Roomba

也會讓人們親昵地幫它取名字，

and feel bad for the Roomba when it gets stuck under the couch.

當它被卡在沙發下時 還會給予同情。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And we can design robots specifically to evoke this response,

並且我們能專門為此 來設計機器人，

using eyes and faces or movements

藉助眼睛、面部或者動作，

that people automatically, subconsciously associate

人們在潛意識裏

會自動將其與某種心情聯繫起來。

with states of mind.

And there's an entire body of research called human-robot interaction

一系列「人與機器人互動」的研究

that really shows how well this works.

都表明了這種機制的運作多麼廣泛。

So for example, researchers at Stanford University found out

例如，史丹佛大學的研究者發現

that it makes people really uncomfortable

當要求人們去觸碰機器人的私處時，

when you ask them to touch a robot's private parts.

他們會感到非常不適。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So from this, but from many other studies,

因此，從很多研究看來，

we know, we know that people respond to the cues given to them

我們知道人們會對這些 逼真的機器人所帶來的暗示

by these lifelike machines,

作出反應，

even if they know that they're not real.

即使人們知道它們並非生命。

Now, we're headed towards a world where robots are everywhere.

我們正進入一個 機器人已無處不在的世界，

Robotic technology is moving out from behind factory walls.

機器人技術打破藩籬，開始走出工廠。

It's entering workplaces, households.

它進入了工作場所、家庭。

And as these machines that can sense and make autonomous decisions and learn

隨着這些能夠感知、 自主決策及學習的機器

enter into these shared spaces,

進入這些公共場所，

I think that maybe the best analogy we have for this

我認為，也許對此最好的類比就是

is our relationship with animals.

我們與動物之間的關係。

Thousands of years ago, we started to domesticate animals,

數千年前，我們開始馴養動物，

and we trained them for work and weaponry and companionship.

它們被我們馴化：付出勞動、 作為武器，並陪伴我們。

And throughout history, we've treated some animals like tools or like products,

在歷史上，我們把一些動物 當作工具或者產品，

and other animals, we've treated with kindness

而對於另一些動物，我們予以善待

and we've given a place in society as our companions.

並為它們保留一席之地， 成為我們的夥伴。

I think it's plausible we might start to integrate robots in similar ways.

我認為，我們以相似的方式 接納機器人，是合情合理的。

And sure, animals are alive.

當然，動物是活的，

Robots are not.

而機器人不是。

And I can tell you, from working with roboticists,

實話實說，與機器人 專家共事讓我得知

that we're pretty far away from developing robots that can feel anything.

我們還遠不足以開發出 能有任何感受的機器人。

But we feel for them,

但是我們同情它們，

and that matters,

這很重要。

because if we're trying to integrate robots into these shared spaces,

因為如果想要讓機器人 融入這些公共空間，

we need to understand that people will treat them differently than other devices,

我們需要瞭解：人們對待 它們與其他設備的方式會不同。

and that in some cases,

在某些情況下，

for example, the case of a soldier who becomes emotionally attached

例如，一位軍人對一同工作的機器人

to the robot that they work with,

產生了情感依賴，

that can be anything from inefficient to dangerous.

這可能造成種種後果， 小到不便，大到危險。

But in other cases, it can actually be useful

在其他情況下， 培養這種與機器人的情感聯結

to foster this emotional connection to robots.

是很有用處的。

We're already seeing some great use cases,

我們已經看到了一些很好的例子，

for example, robots working with autistic children

例如，輔導自閉症兒童的機器人

to engage them in ways that we haven't seen previously,

前所未有地吸引着孩子們，

or robots working with teachers to engage kids in learning with new results.

或者，與老師們共事的機器人 讓孩子們投入學習，取得了新成果。

And it's not just for kids.

這並非只限於孩子。

Early studies show that robots can help doctors and patients

早期的研究顯示， 在醫療保健領域中，

in health care settings.

機器人能夠幫助醫生和病人。

This is the PARO baby seal robot.

這是叫做「帕羅」的海豹寶寶機器人。

It's used in nursing homes and with dementia patients.

它被用於養老院中，陪伴失智症患者。

It's been around for a while.

這項服務已有一段時間了。

And I remember, years ago, being at a party

我還記得，幾年前在一個聚會上，

and telling someone about this robot,

我告訴某人關於這種機器人的事，

and her response was,

她的反應是，

"Oh my gosh.

「噢，天哪，

That's horrible.

這太可怕了。

I can't believe we're giving people robots instead of human care."

簡直難以置信，照顧人們的 竟然是機器人，而不是人工護理。」

And this is a really common response,

這是相當普遍的反應，

and I think it's absolutely correct,

而且我認為這也是人之常情，

because that would be terrible.

因為那樣做真的非常糟糕。

But in this case, it's not what this robot replaces.

但在這裏，機器人 所替代的並非人工護理。

What this robot replaces is animal therapy

機器人所替代的，是動物療法，

in contexts where we can't use real animals

在這種環境下， 我們不允許使用活的動物，

but we can use robots,

但我們可以使用機器人，

because people will consistently treat them more like an animal than a device.

因為人們永遠會把它們 當作動物，而不是設備。

Acknowledging this emotional connection to robots

隨着這些設備日益走近人們的生活，

can also help us anticipate challenges

承認與機器人的情感聯結

as these devices move into more intimate areas of people's lives.

同樣能夠幫助我們 預料到即將面臨的挑戰。

For example, is it OK if your child's teddy bear robot

例如，如果你孩子的泰迪熊機器人

records private conversations?

會記録私人談話，這合理嗎？

Is it OK if your sex robot has compelling in-app purchases?

如果你的性愛機器人強烈 要求購買內置服務，這合理嗎？

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Because robots plus capitalism

因為當機器人遇上資本主義，

equals questions around consumer protection and privacy.

便會產生關於消費者保護 以及隱私方面的問題。

And those aren't the only reasons

這些並不是唯一造成

that our behavior around these machines could matter.

我們對於這些機器的 行為十分重要的原因。

A few years after that first initial experience I had

在最初那場

對恐龍寶寶機器人的 實驗數年之後，

with this baby dinosaur robot,

I did a workshop with my friend Hannes Gassert.

我和朋友哈尼斯 · 哥薩特 開了個研討會。

And we took five of these baby dinosaur robots

我們拿了 5 個這樣的 恐龍寶寶機器人，

and we gave them to five teams of people.

分發給 5 組受試者。

And we had them name them

我們讓人們給它們起名字，

and play with them and interact with them for about an hour.

和它們一起玩耍、互動， 大約用了一個小時。

And then we unveiled a hammer and a hatchet

然後我們拿出一隻錘子和斧頭，

and we told them to torture and kill the robots.

我們要受試者折磨並殺死機器人。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And this turned out to be a little more dramatic

實驗的結果比我們想象的

than we expected it to be,

更有戲劇性，

because none of the participants would even so much as strike

因為參與者甚至都不忍敲打

these baby dinosaur robots,

這些恐龍寶寶機器人，

so we had to improvise a little, and at some point, we said,

所以我們不得不臨時變卦， 後來只好告訴他們，

「好吧，如果摧毀了其他組的機器人， 你就能拯救自己的機器人了。」

"OK, you can save your team's robot if you destroy another team's robot."

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And even that didn't work. They couldn't do it.

即使是這樣也沒有起色。 他們同樣做不到。

So finally, we said,

所以最後，我們說，

"We're going to destroy all of the robots

「我們要摧毀所有的機器人了，

unless someone takes a hatchet to one of them."

除非某個人拿起斧頭 對其中一個下手。

And this guy stood up, and he took the hatchet,

某位仁兄站起來了， 他拿著斧頭，

and the whole room winced as he brought the hatchet down

當他砍中機器人的脖子時，

on the robot's neck,

整個房間的空氣都仿彿凝固了。

and there was this half-joking, half-serious moment of silence in the room

這就是當時在房間裏 因為這隻倒下的機器人

所帶來既幽默又嚴肅的時刻。

for this fallen robot.

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So that was a really interesting experience.

這真是一段有趣的經歷。

Now, it wasn't a controlled study, obviously,

當然，這不是一個具有控制組的研究，

but it did lead to some later research that I did at MIT

但它確實導向了 我在麻省理工學院

和帕拉斯 · 南迪和辛西婭 · 布雷西亞 一起做的一些後續的研究，

with Palash Nandy and Cynthia Breazeal,

where we had people come into the lab and smash these HEXBUGs

我們當時讓人們進入實驗室 粉碎這些電子甲蟲，

that move around in a really lifelike way, like insects.

它們像昆蟲一樣十分逼真地移動。

So instead of choosing something cute that people are drawn to,

所以，與其選擇某種 吸引人們的可愛動物，

we chose something more basic,

我們選擇了更為簡單的東西，

and what we found was that high-empathy people

我們發現，富有同情心的人

would hesitate more to hit the HEXBUGS.

在粉碎電子甲蟲時會更加猶豫。

Now this is just a little study,

這只是一個小研究，

but it's part of a larger body of research

但這也屬於一個更大範疇的研究，

that is starting to indicate that there may be a connection

該研究開始表明： 在人們對同情之心的傾向

between people's tendencies for empathy

和他們對於機器人的行為之間

and their behavior around robots.

或許存在聯繫。

But my question for the coming era of human-robot interaction

但對於未來人類和機器互動的時代，

is not: "Do we empathize with robots?"

我想問的並不是「我們會對 機器人產生同情嗎？」

It's: "Can robots change people's empathy?"

而是「機器人能夠 改變我們的同情心嗎？」

Is there reason to, for example,

例如，

prevent your child from kicking a robotic dog,

阻止你的孩子踢一隻機器狗，

not just out of respect for property,

且並非出於對財產的尊重，

but because the child might be more likely to kick a real dog?

而是因為如此孩子就更有可能 虐待真正的狗，這是否有道理？

And again, it's not just kids.

並且，同樣不侷限於孩子。

This is the violent video games question, but it's on a completely new level

這個問題源於暴力遊戲， 但它站在一個全新的角度，

because of this visceral physicality that we respond more intensely to

因為這種自發的肢體 讓我們做出的反應

會比對螢幕上的圖片更強烈。

than to images on a screen.

When we behave violently towards robots,

當我們虐待機器人，

specifically robots that are designed to mimic life,

尤其是那種被設計成 模仿生命的機器人，

is that a healthy outlet for violent behavior

這是對暴力行為的正常發泄，

or is that training our cruelty muscles?

還是在助長我們的暴戾習性？

We don't know ...

我們不知道……

But the answer to this question has the potential to impact human behavior,

但是這個問題的答案 能夠影響人類行為，

it has the potential to impact social norms,

它能夠影響社會準則，

it has the potential to inspire rules around what we can and can't do

它能夠啓發我們，對於 特定的機器人，哪些事能做，

with certain robots,

哪些事不能做。

similar to our animal cruelty laws.

與我們的「動物保護法」相似。

Because even if robots can't feel,

因為即使機器人無法感知情感，

our behavior towards them might matter for us.

我們對它們的行為 對我們或許很重要。

And regardless of whether we end up changing our rules,

不論最後我們是否 改變了我們的準則，

robots might be able to help us come to a new understanding of ourselves.

機器人或許能夠幫助我們 再一次全新地認識我們自己。

Most of what I've learned over the past 10 years

我過去 10 年來 所瞭解的大部分內容

has not been about technology at all.

並不是關於技術本身。

It's been about human psychology

而是關於人類的心理、

and empathy and how we relate to others.

同情心以及我們 如何與他人建立聯繫。

Because when a child is kind to a Roomba,

因為當一個孩子和善相待 Roomba 機器人時，

when a soldier tries to save a robot on the battlefield,

當一名軍人想在 戰場上拯救一名機器人時，

or when a group of people refuses to harm a robotic baby dinosaur,

或者當一群人拒絶 傷害恐龍機器寶寶時，

those robots aren't just motors and gears and algorithms.

這些機器人已不再是 馬達、齒輪和演算法。

They're reflections of our own humanity.

他們都折射出我們人性的光輝。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）