Why we (sometimes) feel an emotional connection to robots

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This week on TED.com October 20, 2018

Talk of the week Kate Darling: Why we feel an emotional connection to robots 11:51 minutes · Filmed Sep 2018 · Posted Oct 2018 · TED Salon Samsung Do you feel sorry when you watch a robot fall down or get mistreated? We shouldn't have human feelings about these inanimate things ... but more and more, we do, says robot ethicist Kate Darling. She shares some experiments that show how our natural sense of hard-wired empathy is triggered by machines -- and what these machines in turn can teach us about being human. Watch now »

Playlist of the week Take an intellectual snack break A selection of fascinating TED Talks to feed your intellectual curiosity (in 10 minutes or less). Watch » 20 TED Talks to browse and snack on ...

This week's new TED Talks The malaria vaccine was invented more than a century ago -- yet each year, hundreds of thousands of people still die from the disease. How can we improve this vital vaccine? In this interesting talk, immunologist and TED Fellow Faith Osier shows how she's combining cutting-edge technology with century-old insights. Watch » Can we build a robust future without wrecking the planet? Sustainability expert Johan Rockström debuts the Earth3 model -- a new methodology for tracking growth while staying within the boundaries of chaos. He shares five transformational ideas to help achieve an inclusive and prosperous world while keeping the earth stable and resilient. Watch » We need to change how we prescribe drugs, says physician Daniel Kraft: too often, medications are dosed incorrectly, cause toxic side effects ... or just don't work. In a talk and concept demo, Kraft shares his vision for a future of personalized medication, with a prototype 3D printer that could print medications for individual needs. Watch » Is outer space really the silent and lifeless place it's often imagined to be? Perhaps not. Astrophysicist and musician Matt Russo takes us on a journey through the cosmos, revealing the hidden rhythms and harmonies of planetary orbits. The universe is full of music, he says -- we just need to learn how to hear it. Watch »

Read more on ideas.ted.com 'I believe in an always life’: a conversation with Elizabeth Gilbert on love, death and grief Wise words on coping with loss, from our new conversation series. Read » '3 ways my tech helps me handle my anxiety and depression'  Simple hacks to help cultivate self-compassion. Read » 'Write your story, and don’t be afraid to write it': a sci-fi writer talks about finding her voice and being a superhero Nnedi Okorafor writes the kind of fantasy and sci-fi that she never saw on bookshelves growing up. Read »

Quote of the Week “ What if we could [agree] that the richest 10 percent could not allow themselves to amass more than 40 percent, maximum, of national incomes -- a drastic redistribution of wealth, reforming the ability of equity across regions?" Johan Rockström 5 transformational policies for a prosperous and sustainable world

New podcast: The TED Interview Elizabeth Gilbert shows up for ... everything: In the first episode of The TED Interview, author Elizabeth Gilbert sits down with Head of TED Chris Anderson. In an extraordinarily intimate conversation, she shares why openness, transparency and creativity are central to her philosophy of life -- even when faced with moments of desperation and personal tragedy. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

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