Artificial Emotions and the Evolving Moral Status of Social Robots

This article aims to explore the potential impact of artificial emotional intelligence (AEI) on the ethical standing of social robots. By examining how AEI interacts with and potentially reshapes the two dominant perspectives on robots’ moral status, namely the property-oriented approach and the social-relational approach, we aim to offer fresh insights into this pressing dilemma. Our analysis reveals that although the incorporation of AEI does not conclusively confer moral status to current social robots, it might challenge the boundaries that separate robots from other entities customarily considered to have more status, thereby increasing the complexity of the debate.CCS CONCEPTSHuman-centered computing → HCI theory, concepts and models; • Computer systems organization → Robotics; • Computing methodologies → Philosophical/theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence.