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A robot programmed to act like a 7-year-old girl works to combat fear and loneliness in hospitals

⁨116⁩ ⁨likes⁩

Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Pro@programming.dev⁩ to ⁨technology@lemmy.world⁩

https://apnews.com/article/robin-ai-robot-hospitals-nursing-homes-140dce655c41c1ae1812f651625f09d6

cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/37869574

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Comments

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  • BzzBiotch@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Let’s throw a clanker at a problem that obviously needs a human solution. What could go wrong?

    Also: would it maybe be cheaper to just hire a human for this? Seems like the development of such a machine would be much more expensive that just hiring a guy.

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    • coolmojo@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      I suspect a seven year old little girl wouldn’t ask for too much salary either. /s

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      • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        I’m guessing cute bandaids and an ice cream cone would be sufficient.

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    • Chronographs@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      I mean it’s definitely more expensive to pay someone for their time assuming you’d presumably have an army of these to replace with people. But it’d also be am actual solution instead of whatever fresh hell this is

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      • BzzBiotch@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        I don’t think it’s more expensive to hire people for this work than to develop and produce a bunch of robots that are obviously not up to the task.

        How could they ever be? Loneliness can only be adressed through sincere human contact. Any other (robotic) solution is financially wasteful at best and disastrously counterproductive at worst.

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  • ShieldsUp@startrek.website ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

    I think I would be offended if some robot came up to try and provide emotional support. Its fake, and reminds me that our society values profit over human life. This should not be normalized as a necessity due to missing money that is going to the pockets of administrators, owners, whoever else…this is pathetic.

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    • Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      Fr, fr. At least when a human fakes it there is the possibility that they aren’t faking it. A machine that is incapable of feeling loses all ambiguity.

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    • sqgl@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      The example in the article is of a kid patient.

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      • Landless2029@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        I have to admit if I was a small child of 8-10 and Eve from Wall-E rolled up I’d be giddty to play with it, but even then I wouldn’t expect it to replace actual human contact.

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      • ShieldsUp@startrek.website ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        Sure, I just can’t help but imagine how I personally would react if this became common for all patients.

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  • ICastFist@programming.dev ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    The idea isn’t new or evil per se, since anyone that had to spend 2+ days in a hospital knows how dreadful it can feel. The problem here is relying on current AI tech, which may end up suggesting suicide during the chats, and the companies’ pinky promises that your privacy and data won’t be leaked or sold to the lowest bidder

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    • freeman@feddit.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      I agree, but usually the vendor picks the highest bidder ;)

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  • probable_possum@leminal.space ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    " Can I come with you?"
    – little boy in Screamers (1995)

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    • IcyToes@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Oh shit. That’s memories. Creeped me the hell out back in the day…

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      • probable_possum@leminal.space ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        Good times.:)

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  • DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

    Bruh, just give them a cat to pet lol

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    • onslaught545@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      It’s not the best idea to have a source of allergens, dangerous pathogens, and parasites around sick children.

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      • T156@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        Stuffed toy you can autoclave?

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  • Telorand@reddthat.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Oh good, now they’re taking the jobs of certified comfort/support dogs? The solution nobody asked for, JFC.

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  • morto@piefed.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

    That would just make me feel fear and loneliness

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    • Agent641@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      To help lessen your fear and loneliness, robochild will stand silently by your bedside all night while you sleep, keeping her eyes open without blinking the whole time to make sure you’re safe.

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      • Chronographs@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        Every time you finally start to fall asleep and snore a little too loudly: “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

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      • morto@piefed.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        Doctors, euthanize me, please!

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  • tidderuuf@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

    I take it the people who designed this never had an evil genius 7 yo daughter who constantly terrorized their parents?

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  • markovs_gun@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

    Is it bad this is the first thing I thought of? I can’t imagine people won’t do absolutely horrifying things to a robot programmed to act like a 7 year old

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQcNYb3DydA

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    • StopSpazzing@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      Found a former long time reddit user.

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  • jjlinux@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    That’s and AI pedophile magnet 🤣

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    • helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

      Better to catch them with a robot kid than with real ones.

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    • kami@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Or a treatment

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