The Emergent Normativity of Carebots: Evaluating the Proficiencies of Embodied Artificial Intelligence

Developments in social robotics could provide warranted support to caregivers while aiding those in need. Despite their appeal, however, researchers are relatively pessimistic about whether robots can replicate the rational, emotional, and relational skills of humans who traditionally occupy these roles. In this paper, I consider the extent to which social robots can care well based on their present and projected capabilities. I follow a heuristic of good care – humble inquiry, inclusive connection, and responsive action – as conceptualized by care theorists to discern whether robots can embody the emergent normativity demonstrated in care practices. The heuristic reveals pressing challenges of developing tacit knowledge, exhibiting emotional sensitivity, and skillfully tailoring responses to diverse users. I conclude that social robots as of now can satisfy a range of needs while mirroring certain desirable emotional and social traits when facilitating care. Still, robots cannot themselves benefit from the moral resources of a care relationship and have embodied constraints that impact their ability to improvise, empathize, and mobilize to a comparable degree to humans. This could in turn reinforce a thinner and unidirectional account of care. In support of this conclusion, I offer an account of care normativity focused on embodied practice, reflexivity, and shared vulnerability while considering the broader implications of robot agency for caregiving. This paper concurrently outlines a process by which to qualitatively evaluate the current and future use of social robotics and expands the scope of included care literature with respect to them.