Hybrid Societies: Living with Social Robots

This book explores the social implications of artificial intelligence and robotics, focusing on social robotics and the theory of socio-technical change. It addresses how social robots will modify social systems and how human relationality will be affected, employing resources from philosophy of technology, actor-network theory, psychoanalysis, systemic theory, and constructivist cognitive theory. It offers a novel perspective on evaluating the effectiveness of social robots and has implications for research and design.

Format: Hardback
Length: 154 pages
Publication date: 20 February 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the profound impact of social robots and synthetic social agents on our social systems and intersubjective relationships. It becomes evident that technology wields a significant influence on societies, yet the intricacies of how and under what circumstances these changes unfold remain largely unexplored. This book serves as a theoretical framework for understanding the social implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. It begins with a philosophical exploration of technology, particularly focusing on social robotics, to systematically examine the concept of socio-technical change. It addresses two central questions: To what extent will social robots redefine our social structures? And how will human relationality be shaped by human-robot interactions?

To answer these questions, the book draws upon a diverse range of resources, including continental philosophy, actor-network theory, psychoanalysis, systemic theory, and constructivist cognitive theory. This multidisciplinary approach allows for a comprehensive analysis of the subject matter. Moreover, the book presents a novel perspective on evaluating the effectiveness of social robots, which holds significant implications for the research and design of social robotics.

Hybrid Societies will captivate scholars and advanced students engaged in the fields of philosophy of technology, AI ethics, robot ethics, and continental philosophy. It offers a rich and thought-provoking exploration of the evolving relationship between technology, society, and the human psyche, paving the way for new insights and understanding in this rapidly evolving domain.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032605920