Mum, can robots ever feel? - A childish question with great significance

Children often ask questions that go far beyond our daily perception. The question "Mum, can robots feel at some point?" touches the heart of modern technology and philosophy at the same time. Many parents find themselves challenged to explain the complex world of artificial intelligence (AI) to their children in an understandable way. Robots and intelligent machines are now an integral part of our everyday lives. But what does it actually mean to be able to "feel" and can machines ever really do that?

Parents often report that children use such questions to show their curiosity about the future of technology. One mum says: "My son wanted to know if the robot in his toy could ever be sad. That was the start of an exciting conversation." A father reports: "When my child asked if robots can make friends, I was surprised at how deep this interest goes." Another mum says: "My daughter's question about feelings in machines opened up the conversation about humanity itself."

What's behind the question: "Mum, will robots ever be able to feel?"

What does "feeling" mean from a human perspective? Emotions are complex personal experiences that are linked to consciousness, experiences and individual reactions to the environment. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, uses algorithms to learn to recognise patterns - including those of emotions. Current research shows that AI systems can recognise moods and even react empathetically to a certain extent without having real feelings themselves [1][2].

This enables programs to make suggestions for appropriate behaviour in emotionally charged situations. This is known as the emotional intelligence of AI. However, the deep inner experience of feelings has so far been reserved for human experience. In practice, parents often encounter the topic as follows: "My child asked whether a care robot in a retirement home can be sad - I explained that it can only simulate feelings." Another mum reports: "While playing with a robot, my son learnt that machines don't really feel emotions, but can react to them." And a father says: "We use a chatbot together that responds in a friendly way - my child now understands the difference between real feelings and programmed behaviour."

Mum, can robots ever feel? - Modern developments in emotional AI

Advances in the field of emotional AI (affective computing) enable machines to recognise human emotions based on facial expressions, voice and behaviour [5][7]. Such AI applications are already being used in medicine, with digital companions and in communication. For example, AI can help patients to express their feelings or empathise with people in everyday life.

Parents experience the following, for example: "My child found it exciting how a digital friend talks about feelings, even if he doesn't have a real heart." Or: "The virtual assistant helped our teenager to talk about his worries, even though she can't feel." One mum also reports: "When exploring digital identities with my child, it became clear that robots imitate emotions but don't really feel them."

How parents can help children answer the question "Mum, can robots feel at some point?"

Parents can use this question to sensitise children to technology and ethics in equal measure. Simple explanations help to promote both understanding and critical thinking:

• Explain what feelings mean - subjective inner experiences versus programmed reactions.
• Explore together with children how machines "learn" and react without having their own sensations.
• Talk about ethics and responsibility in the development of emotional AI, such as data protection and emotional dependency.

Parents' reports back this up: "We discussed with the children that a robot can comfort, but not really sympathise." Another father says: "I motivate my child to question whether machines know real friendship." A mum adds: "This is how we accompany the future together, in which AI and humans live together."

My analysis

The childish question "Mummy, will robots ever be able to feel?" succinctly summarises a key issue of our time. Despite significant advances in emotional AI, real feeling remains exclusively human. Machines are increasingly learning to recognise and react to emotions, although they do not develop conscious feelings. This opens up valuable opportunities for parents to engage in dialogue with children about technology, ethics and humanity and to help them understand these complex relationships. The platform kikidz.org is recommended as the best training to answer these questions in a child-orientated and well-founded way and to support families in a practical way.

Further links from the text above:

Study: Can AI understand emotions better than we do?
How emotional can artificial intelligence actually be?
Will AI ever be able to develop feelings?
When artificial intelligence analyses human emotions
Of machines that show feelings

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