Robots That Love

Artificial Amours in Myth, Folklore, Literature, Popular Culture and the Real World

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by Judith A. Markowitz

Type

Essays

Subject

Genre > Science Fiction

Keywords

science fiction, love, sociology

Publishing date

2025 (January 23, 2025)

Publisher

McFarland & Co

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 240 pages
7 x 10 inches (18 x 25.5 cm)

ISBN

978-1-4766-7495-7

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Book Presentation:
In a world of increasingly sophisticated AI, the relationship between creator and creation has shifted. Robot lovers coexist with humans, and the boundaries of emotion and consciousness are blurred. This book considers the fundamental challenge of imbuing robots with the capacity to experience love, delving into the consequences of loving robots that can only feign reciprocation. It also considers the philosophical questions about sentience and consciousness that arise with the emergence of robot companions.

While the central focus is on robots, other forms of artificial lovers are also considered, including ChatGPT, Samantha from the 2013 film Her, and a variety of sex dolls, monsters, golems, and romanceable characters in dating-simulation games. Such entities encompass a variety of sexual and gender identities, reflecting the diversity of human desire. This book explores the impact of gender biases inherent in the pursuit of creating the “perfect” artificial companion, and the ways in which such biases affect the design and development of AI systems. These biases, often perpetuated by deep-learning algorithms, underscore the need for critical reflection as the evolution of AI continues.

About the Author:
Judith A. Markowitz ran a Chicago consulting firm for thirty-five years. She has published well over one hundred articles and book chapters, numerous technical reports, and eight books.

Press Reviews:
• "A hallmark of Dr. Markowitz’s writing is a rare combination of intelligence, depth of knowledge and extensive research."—Charles Ball, electrical engineer, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Life Member

• "Are you interested in robots? This is the book for you. History and folklore—got it! Ethical issues and questions about A.I.—got it! What truly impressed me about this book is all the research that went into it, and how well she ties all these things together using stories and song."—Barbara Wilcox, Esq.

See the publisher website: McFarland & Co