The New Breed

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

A bold, optimistic exploration of the relationship between robots and humans based on our history with animals, from a renowned MIT researcher

The robots are here. They make our cars, they deliver fast food, they mine the sea floor. And in the near-future their presence will increasingly enter our homes and workplaces - making human-robot interaction a frequent, everyday occurrence. What will this future look like? What will define the relationship between humans and robots?

Here Kate Darling, a world-renowned expert in robot ethics, shows that in order to understand the new robot world, we must first move beyond the idea that this technology will be something like us. Instead, she argues, we should look to our relationship with animals. Just as we have harnessed the power of animals to aid us in war and work, so too will robots supplement - rather than replace - our own skills and abilities.

A deeply original analysis of our technological future and the ethical dilemmas that await us, The New Breed explains how the treatment of machines can reveal a new understanding of our own history, our own systems and how we relate - not just to non-humans, but also to each other.

'A must read for anyone interested in the emerging ethics of robotics' Irene M. Pepperberg

'Endless ink has been spilled on AI and our robot future. Just when it seems there's nothing left to be said, along comes Kate Darling's book. For the first time, it seems we're having the conversation we ought to be having' Tim O'Reilly

© Kate Darling 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Critics Review

  • Well-researched, well-developed, and well-written, Darling’s innovative proposal – to use our history of human-animal interactions as a blueprint for the future of human-robot interactions – is a must read for anyone interested in the emerging ethics of robotics. The New Breed raises serious questions and provides some intriguing answers

    Irene M. Pepperberg

  • In this extraordinary and wide-ranging book, Kate Darling fundamentally reframes how we should understand these new forces within our life. From their effect upon the nature of work, to their critical role in the emotional life of many, robots will matter much as animals have mattered

    Lawrence Lessig

  • Inspired by how humans have partnered with animals throughout history, Darling, a robot nerd who calls her toddler ‘Babybot’, explores the fascinating emotional connection we have with our robots and makes a compelling case for a bright future where robots are our collaborators and companions

    Rana el Kaliouby

  • A riveting and engaging book, full of wit and wisdom. It goes beyond the tired tropes of utopia and dystopia, and presents a nuanced and smart take on our relationships to robots

    Bruce Schneier

  • Endless ink has been spilled on AI and our robot future. Just when it seems there’s nothing left to be said, along comes Kate Darling’s book. For the first time, it seems we’re having the conversation we ought to be having.

    Tim O'Reilly

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