So, I am a lifelong dog owner, to some extent, either by association because we had them growing up, or now that I've got a beautiful one-year-old adolescent, well, he still acts like a puppy, so I'm going to call it a puppy, and it is a mix, a rescued street dog in Greece, an ancient breed called Kokoni. Anyway, I digress. What I'm wondering as we are talking about various types of tech and so on, I have not really ever even considered this a reality because I am absolutely head over heels for animals and particularly dogs. But in the general public, what are your opinions on tech replacing animals. Now first of all what would that look like? I mean since the early 2000s or even 90s I reckon we've had these toy robot dogs and cats and so on furbies you name it there's been some sort of equivalent in toy form. What about serious tech form? Do you think we'll have a Roomba that is there's basically a pet that you can talk to and train do you think that we're gonna have fully fledged robot dogs maybe the way you see it in Kingsman when you've got guard dogs who are fully mechanic I'm very curious because I have actually never discussed this with anyone ever because I've just know it's never come up so I'm wondering what your take on this is.
Yeah it's a great question if he's into some of the other questions that have been posed about whether or not AI and robots can ever mimic adequately for example human emotions are in this case we're talking about you know animal emotions and companions
I just think as humans are we wouldn't be fooled if you will the machinery the technology just would never be an adequate substitute for the real thing so to speak so they could give it a go but I don't think it will work
Yeah, I think you're right on the companionship piece. I think that's that's absolutely key. I mean what we might see instead is that it replaces pets for people who want pets for purely purpose such as guard dogs
So that actually people are not looking for companionship might actually have an up here and might be better for everyone because they don't have to provide the companionship in return either using tech.
Dragon to say what part don't you understand the end or the oh like you can't snuggle a robot like I mean where do you where does your brain even come up with this are robots gonna replace
So ends have always been a problem area for me and I really don't appreciate you bringing this up and practically letter shaming me at the moment. So yeah, feeling a bit triggered, to be honest.
You know what I love you enough to hurt your feelings and my job is to trigger it's like a pimple it comes up to be popped so when we're triggered it comes up to be healed how's that for some esoteric will bullshit this morning
Look I've seen animatronic seals and dogs be using care homes to comfort in a lonely old people I don't see why it couldn't be done if done well enough to confirm provide someone a pet without the
This is a very good use case actually, yeah a good point about providing something to people who can't provide for the animals. Yeah, I'd love to see that. That could be a market.
I don't think it's going to take them over except for those cold families who just do not want to take care of another being or like I think that would be good for people who leave their dog outside all day all night all year round because they shouldn't be pet owners so I actually hope they make them super cute and furry and so that way those people who shouldn't own animals or have it excuse me how the animals would get those instead but for real
I actually think that's a fantastic point and a great argument for pets that are basically tech and AI based because Yeah, there are so many people I can think of even that I know that aren't necessarily even bad people But they just don't know how to take care of an animal and that if they want something to Just be a pet they might as well be better off with a furry computer So I really, really love what you're saying.
I think it's interesting with tech you know because it's like are we gonna actually be able to replace humans or animals like fully and get all the benefits that those things have in our everyday lives and right now like I see it very far from happening but even if it was to happen it is kind of scary to think about.
Yeah, absolutely. I completely agree with you. And further up here actually, just for Ms Milano made a good point in that it could be a good alternative for people who just don't know how to take care of animals. And I hadn't really ever thought of it like that before and I thought that was brilliant. So, and even I know people who aren't bad people, they just can't care for animals. And they could have a furry computer instead of an actual real life thing. But yeah, it will be interesting to see.
Mate as someone who's got two alexas if there was a physical embodiment of Alexa I'll be all over that all day every day Maybe they need to pair these Japanese dolls with the Amazon tech. I mean that'd be brilliant. That'd be brilliant.
If anything I feel like there's gonna be stuff to where the dog walk it's so forward they can play fetch by yourself because humans are just gonna be lazy but I don't think they're gonna start making like robot dogs and cats that's kind of overwhelming because people people like dogs I don't think they're gonna lie just replace them with robots
Yeah, absolutely. I mean they've already got these little machines where the dog fetches the ball, puts it back in the machine and then throws it out again. So we're starting there. We're starting. I'd love something that could walk the dog down. That wouldn't be too bad. Maybe it could walk more often. And interestingly when it comes to robot dogs and cats, someone made a point that maybe it's something for those who can't actually take care of animals. And that would be an interesting development.
Oh I want to say honestly I think I think I'll rather it with technology or I mean like prefer that more because I actually cherish my pets and animals a lot so I actually think that I'd rather use my car instead then like you know a horse or something because I want to give them like a great life and I love animals so much so
Thank you very much for your reply Jade and I completely see what you mean but what I wanted to clarify was that what I'm really thinking was if you see tech replacing pets as the actual pet so I wasn't thinking about sort of transportation but for instance instead of having an actual dog you have a tech version, a robot dog or something like it if you know what I mean?
I mean, I'm with you. I've got my dog and I couldn't for the life of me imagine something mechanical coming in in its place, but someone made a point a very good point of maybe maybe that's something to consider for those who just shouldn't have or can't take care of or won't take care of their animals so if they absolutely need to have something they can have the mechanical I just