A Living, Breathing Commitment

I’ve been reading articles about robotic “pets” touted as rising contributors to what is being termed the new “emotional economy”. Hmm.

AI is suddenly everywhere, including in the world of companion “pets”. They are fuzzy, sure, with algorithms written to mimic pet behavior, such as nuzzling and purring. Being AI-driven, they are also learning – recording audio and video, and building a “digital diary” of interactions with their owners. This, presumably, makes the interactions with their humans more meaningful over time. The manufacturers of robotic pets tout the benefits – no vet bills, no walks in bad weather, no clean-up, no 3 a.m. hairballs – and maintain that they can be emotionally beneficial companions. Can this technology help people who are simply unable to care for real pets due to life limitations? OK, probably. But they can never replace the myriad benefits of sharing life with a living, breathing pet.

Pets give us unconditional love, unexpected and delightful interactions, and teach us about how to appreciate them, and, by extension, the larger natural world. People with robotic pets will never experience that same hard-to-name connection, the life-saving commitment, the simple joy of sharing life with another living creature, or the lessons of responsibility that groom the next generation of pet lovers. I was given my first pet at age six. That early bond has made me a more empathetic, responsible adult with a deep respect for living creatures and a lifetime of love to give to many, many more pets.

There are so many homeless and vulnerable animals out there who really need us, and who would benefit so much from becoming a member of a loving family. Robotics may be the only answer for people who don’t have a choice, but for everyone else, there’s simply no substitute for the real living, breathing, purring, prancing, barking, cuddling, loving thing.