I'm Your Man

Alma: Human history is full of supposed improvements whose dire consequences only become clear decades or even centuries later. After my experience with a humanoid robot named Tom, I can say with certainty that a robot designed to replace a husband or wife is one such supposed improvement. There's no doubt that a humanoid robot tailored to individual preferences can not only replace a partner, but can even seem to be the better partner. They fulfill our longings, satisfy our desires and eliminate our feeling of being alone. They make us happy. And what could be wrong with being happy? But are humans really intended to have all their needs met at the push of a button? Is it not our unfulfilled longing, our imagination and our unending pursuit of happiness that are the sources of our humanity? If we allow humanoids as spouses, we will create a society of addicts, gorged and weary from having their needs permanently met and from a constant flow of personal acknowledgement. What impetus would we have to confront conventional individuals, to challenge ourselves, to endure conflicts, to change? It's to be expected that anyone who lives with a humanoid long term will become incapable of sustaining normal human contact. I strongly advise against authorizing humanoids as life partners.