Ideas change everything

Why we have an emotional connection to robots

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Kate Darling |

TED Salon: Samsung

• September 2018

We're far from developing robots that feel emotions, but we already have feelings towards them, says robot ethicist Kate Darling, and an instinct like that can have consequences. Learn more about how we're biologically hardwired to project intent and life onto machines -- and how it might help us better understand ourselves.

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We're far from developing robots that feel emotions, but we already have feelings towards them, says robot ethicist Kate Darling, and an instinct like that can have consequences. Learn more about how we're biologically hardwired to project intent and life onto machines -- and how it might help us better understand ourselves.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Samsung. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.

About the speaker

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Kate Darling investigates the relationship between humans and robots -- now, and in the future.

About TED Salon

TED Salons welcome an intimate audience for an afternoon or evening of highly-curated TED Talks revolving around a globally relevant theme. A condensed version of a TED flagship conference, they are distinct in their brevity, opportunities for conversation, and heightened interaction between the speaker and audience.

Read more about TED Salons

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Samsung. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.

Kate Darling: Why we have an emotional connection to robots | TED Talk