As the world grapples with demographic challenges such as aging populations, declining fertility rates, and shrinking birth rates, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being considered as a potential solution. But can a robot truly be a part of our family? Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden are exploring this question through a project called AI and Kinship.
Led by Dr. Berit Åström, the project analyzes how AI is depicted in speculative fiction, such as science fiction stories and films, as a way to understand how we might imagine AI as part of our families. The project is not just about robots and AI, but about how we define family and relationships.
Close relationships are the fabric of our society, regulating everything from caring responsibilities to life-changing decisions. As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives, including healthcare and social care, the boundaries between human and non-human are becoming increasingly blurred. This raises important questions about the potential roles that AI can play in our families and communities.
The AI and Kinship project is using kinship studies to analyze stories about androids and AI in speculative fiction. By examining these narratives, the researchers aim to gain insight into how cultures make sense of the challenges posed by demographic changes and how AI can be imagined as part of the solution.
One area of particular interest is the potential of AI in caregiving and family relationships. As the population ages, there is a growing need for caregivers and support systems. AI-powered robots and virtual assistants could potentially fill this gap, providing companionship, emotional support, and practical care. However, this raises important questions about the nature of family and kinship. Can a robot truly be a part of our family, or is it simply a tool to support our relationships?
As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives, it’s essential to consider how we want to relate to these technologies. Can a robot be a mother, a sibling, or a child? The AI and Kinship project is helping us explore these questions and imagine a future where AI is part of our families.
The project’s goal is to help us think critically about the roles we want AI to play in our society. By exploring how AI is imagined in speculative fiction, we can gain insights into how cultures make sense of current challenges and imagine possible alternatives. As Dr. Åström explains, “The analysis can help us understand how we make sense of contemporary challenges in terms of kinship and care practices, and what possible options we can imagine AI posing in the future.”
(Author is a Senior Journalist, specialized in Science writing and communication ; Editor-in-Chief, Pashu Mitra (Hindi-English Bimonthly) and Former Editor and Chief/Assistant Secretary, Animal Welfare Board of India, Government of India)
