Where to draw the line.

Where to draw the line.

written by: Asha F.

     Where do we draw the line when discussing things like robots and androids. Robots that are intelligent that can look, talk, and act like real humans. I recently watched an episode of a popular television show on Netflix called Black Mirror. The episode that I watched was titled "Be Right Back" it was about a woman who lost her partner, he was in a car crash on his way to run some errands. At the funeral for her boyfriend the girlfriend (Martha) was approached by a woman who was in a similar situation a few years prior. She told Martha about this program that allows you to speak to the person that you lost. At first Martha completely rejected the idea thinking that it was crazy and knowing that Ash ( the dead boyfriend) was never coming back. The friend insisted that this would help her cope.

     Later Martha finds out that she is pregnant and being distraught needing to tell someone she opens the program that allows her to email "Ash". This is possible by her uploading all of Ash's social media to the program. Eventually, emailing is not enough for Martha she wants to hear Ash's voice. She makes that know and upgrades the program. Soon, this isn't even enough for  her and she begins to crave Ash himself once she tells the computer this he says its possible. She ends up buying an android that looks just like Ash. It is a functioning robot it walks and talks and is a very convincing imitation of Ash. In the beginning she was satisfied with it. Well, mainly she was satisfied with the sex, throughout her time with the android she realizes that this android is not Ash. It does not react to certain situation like the real Ash would, it does not talk to her like the real Ash would. 

     Even though the robot is intelligent and learns along the way it starts to become its own person like a different version of Ash because the robot does not share all of Ash's experiences. It can not think like him and react to situation like the real Ash would it can only imitate what it think the real Ash would do in  a certain situation. Eventually, Martha grows tired of the android and ends up locking it away in the attic forever.

     My question is when do we say this is not alright I personally feel that a line should have been drawn at having phone calls with the android. That was enough, it was already stating to trick her into thinking that is was the real Ash anyhow. The act of getting an android that looks just like a deceased loved one and is supposed to act like your loved one is out of hand. It can easily become a sick obsession or deranged thinking that the android is your lost loved one. In truth you can not bring something back from the dead once its dead its dead forever. Using technology in this way can not be healthy in any way for the party using it. They need to keep in mind that this is just an invention something that can not love you back sure it may be able to synthesize feelings of love and other things but, it is in no way a living human being. I personally feel that people should get together and draw a clear line to where we draw the line at the uses and functions of androids and A.I in the world.