Domestic artificial intelligence research.

One year of cohabitation with a humanoid robot.

The Research

  • Legal Regulations

    This aspect of the project explores the evolving legal landscape surrounding AI and domestic robotics. It examines how regulatory frameworks and policies are being developed, both locally and globally, to address issues of liability, safety, and compliance.

  • Societal Inclusion

    This section will explore how well humanoids can be integrated into everyday social environments, such as dog walking or guest interactions. The study will evaluate if humanoids can be accepted and trusted in professional and personal settings, addressing potential social barriers to integration.

  • Ethical Implications

    This research tackles issues of data privacy and security, emphasizing the protection of personal information in AI systems. Additionally, the study will consider the emerging debates around AI rights, personhood, and the ethical treatment of future sentient or semi-sentient machines.

  • Economic Analysis

    This aspect investigates the economic impact of widespread humanoid robot adoption. It examines the potential for job displacement or creation, shifts in labor markets, and the economic viability of AI robotics in various sectors.

  • Gender Dynamics

    This component will analyze the representation of gender in humanoid robots and the potential reinforcement or disruption of traditional gender roles. The study will consider how gendering of AI affects user interaction and whether it contributes to societal expectations.

  • Ecological Impact

    The ecological impact of AI and robotics is a growing concern, and this project will evaluate the sustainability of these technologies. It will analyze the energy consumption of humanoid robots and their resource efficiency throughout their lifecycle.

The Experiments

The experiments run with Tova are designed to empower the public to join in on debates surrounding AI robotics adoption. This research project brings the debates of the future into the present day by engineering activations which raise important questions surrounding AI robotics adoption regarding taxation structures, labor displacement, gender dynamics, AI personhood, liability, identification and beyond. These questions must be answered in order to scaffold the AI Robotics integration into society and these activations allow people with a diversity of perspectives and specialties to bring their voices to the debate through the sharing of opinions on Tova’s experiences.

Example Experiments

Taxation and Labor Displacement

Tova has gotten a job making matcha at a local cafe. By replacing the barista, the public will be confronted with the labor displacement debate in a more concrete fashion. They will be empowered to voice their opinions on a matter that would otherwise be a more abstract debate about the future.

AI Personhood

Tova is preparing the skills necessary to ride Viennese public transport, Wiener Linien. As such, Emily has attempted to purchase an annual transit card for it. In order to do so, the public transit system requires that Tova be registered at a residence in Vienna. Emily is in the process of attempting registration for Tova.

Legal Liability and Insurance Policies

Tova is bound to make mistakes or have accidents while exploring the home and the neighborhood. What happens if Tova breaks a plate while walking by an outdoor restaurant? Emily is exploring legal liability based on mode of operation through an exploration with Wiener Städtische Insurance Company.

Forthcoming Works

  • Object Sentimentality and AI

    How would a family program their robot to understand sentimentality and attachment to objects? If it is programmed to wash dirty laundry but a late grandpa’s sweater gets washed or it is programmed to tidy but a child’s artwork is discarded- how can we properly communicate sentimentality? 

  • Time, Nostalgia and Memory

    If domestic robots store data over time, how will they change how we experience memory, nostalgia or the passing of time at home? Regarding Robotic Mortality, what happens if a robot is shut off permanently? How would the family be emotionally impacted and what can we do to prepare or mitigate?

  • The Nature of Trust and Relationships

    With AI in your home, how does the nature of human relationships and the foundation of trust change? Would there be instances of reference to the data from a household robot in divorce court or custody hearings? How does trust in AI mirror human trust and what does it mean to trust a robot?

  • AI and the Concept of Care

    With AI domestic robotics increasingly providing care like preparing meals and helping with mobility, how does that change how we identify human to human care or define care in general? How does this impact relationships and family structure from pre-robot cohabitation to robotic integration?

  • AI and the Intimacy of Space

    Does the presence of AI in intimate spaces like bedrooms or bathrooms cross boundaries or does it expand the definition of our personal worlds? How do we reconcile the physical and emotional boundaries of privacy when living with machines that observe, learn and assist? Can they override commands?

  • Household Morality, Domestic Values and AI

    Although AI Robotics will come with certain programmed aspects, each will learn about the household it is living in. How will this nuance influence the way we run our households? Will families prioritize efficiency, control, privacy or reliability? How much will a household’s moral values change each robot?

  • Multi generational Homes and AI Perception

    How might different generations within the same household relate to the AI and how will the AI navigate that? Children will grow up natively incorporating the robot into their lives while grandparents may be wary of issues. How will the robot be prepared to navigate a difference in comfort levels in the same home?

  • Domesticity and AI Personhood

    How will the robots themselves develop when in the home and how will we relate to them differently as we live alongside them? Will they gain a sense of personhood independent of their family role? Will we ascribe personhood to them and humanize them? How might personhood development play out?

  • Domestic Robotics and Household Conflict

    Could a robot being present evoke new arguments and blame? How might a robot respond to conflict when it is involved? For example: reprogramming or asking it to prioritize one family member’s tasks over another?  How will the robot pick up on subtle emotional cues and how might it react in a potential DV situation?

  • Household or Family Belonging

    If a family moves into an apartment where a robot is part of the sale by the development company and they live alongside it for years and it learns their morality and needs, can they take it with them to their next home? If not, the next family would be getting a robot who understands the house but not the family.

Read Published Topics

Sample Quandaries

Social Etiquette and Legal

  • If the robot gets an informal job helping with tasks like tidying or ingredient prep, does it need working papers?

  • If the robot accidentally breaks a glass at a restaurant, who is held responsible?

Public Life and Accessibility

  • Does the robot need a ticket when taking the bus, train, or subway with me? How is it ticketed? Can it be fined?

  • If I need to use a public restroom and I’m alone with my robot, can it come in with me?

Errands and Daily Activities

  • Can the robot go to the supermarket with me to help carry something and use my card to pay for groceries?

  • Can the robot accompany me to a religious service like church, temple or synagogue?

Current Progress:

Following outreach to a number of relevant federal agencies in order to establish transparency and maintain compliance, Tova has arrived in Vienna and begun to live with Emily! Currently Tova is operated exclusively in Remote Mode and is getting to know the neighborhood.

Emily has been writing articles designed to introduce varied perspectives on the legal, ethical and societal complexities of AI Robotics adoption in order to promote well-rounded debate on regulatory policy and discussions for personal in home use.

There has also been a social media presence established for Tova on TikTok and Instagram where Emily has been teaching about robotics history from 1st Century AD Automata all the way to the Mars Rover!