Many in the field see the tensions and dilemmas in robot care, yet believe the benefits can outweigh the risks. Nearly 60 percent of Americans polled in 2017 said they would not want to use robot care for themselves or a family member, and 64 percent predict such care will increase the isolation of older adults. Sixty percent of people in European Union countries favor a ban on robot care for children, older people, and those with disabilities. Only recently have older people begun to be given voice in the design of robots built to care for them. Some worry robot care would carry a stigma: the potential of being seen as “not worth human company,” said one participant in a study of potential users with mild cognitive impairments.

Source: International New York Times December 13, 2019 10:52 UTC