It’s no secret that technology has in many ways contributed to better medical care. It’s also no secret that, for many, technology and humans should not mix in any even remotest way – in fact, for many, the advances in technology is practically the sign of the oncoming end of the world. These are all interesting points of debate – be it from the perspective of the technology giants, new firms with truly inspiring ideas or human behaviour -, but ultimately, they are a discussion about how we behave about our own behaviour, and how we fear or accept it, and which narrative wins at which point. There is, however, another point of view to consider, and that is the sheer necessity and how it may influence how we view matters, especially when it comes to health and safety of ourselves and our loved ones.
The covid-19 pandemic was and remains, at this point in time, a global problem… one that we are, it seems, far from solving. At the same time, it highlights a number of our weaknesses – how we do supply chains, how we do work, how we do care, especially of the most vulnerable, are our weak points in an epidemic, because they are beyond necessary, and yet, we find ourselves largely helpless when it comes to adapting, especially if we wish to continue using safety protocols, which are a life saving strategy. Technology could be of help in possibly all these matters, and it is not unlikely that we would in fact adapt to using tech alongside workers working remotely in most cases.
But what about the care sector?
During the pandemic, the details emerged concerning the care of the elderly that were downright ghastly. We read about nurses and carers abandoning their charges. We read about them being under-provided and often left to die. We were given a glimpse into what happens when a care situation goes wrong… and this is not the first time. Any form of care, at home or at an establishment, be it of invalids, mental health patients, disabled children or adults or indeed the elderly, comes with the shadow of possible things that can and will go wrong – of abuses, abandonment, inhuman conditions and worse. Look up the stories that pop up during history and you will see that the care of human beings for other human beings can be either the most inspiring thing in the world or the worst, ugliest, most dystopian example of human nastiness and cowardice you can find.
This, especially the number of cases during the pandemic, as well as the possibility not only of the second wave, but also of any subsequent pandemics, poses an interesting question.
Given that we know of these abuses, would we be more willing to put robots in charge – temporarily or fully – of the most vulnerable?
The pros definitely exist. A robot left in charge would not abandon people simply because they are afraid of contracting an illness. A robot would not take sexual advantage of its charges, would not try to rob them of their savings. It would not experiment on them. It would not suffer from health problems (such as bad back) due to having to lift people who are too heavy for the human carer. It would not risk a pregnancy due to any unfavourable conditions (illnesses in environment, heavy lifting, etc, that can affect some pregnant women, including nurses and carers). It would be a tool, one that could function remotely. If programmed and built right, it would be harmless as well as a good conversationalist (that’s down to both mechanics and to the AI itself). Lastly, to make it a more relatable object, it could be made to look human…in a calming, attractive way. Silicone flesh, much like that used in love dolls, could be used to fashion an android the type of Data… the type we have been seeing in sci-fi for decades now.
Are there cons?
Yes. If the robot carer functioned remotely, or in conjunction with a human team (as is my belief it should, at least at this point in our technological development, because who knows what the future may bring?), this would potentially, still make it vulnerable to abuses. It would become a tool that could be hacked, that could be made to do many things that would still endanger the human charges. Even if its grip, for example, could not cause damage, one need only shut it down while making it seem it is still working and the distance-working human team would, essentially, yet again abandon its vulnerable charges.
Apart from that, and with the potential of malfunction in mind, the only other real problem lies in our perception of technology. Would all charges feel better with a robo-nurse at hand?
I personally believe that not all would, even after being introduced to it properly. For some, the fear of machines might run too deeply; others may fear tampering or abuse, while others again would probably exhibit the same prejudice that one may exhibit towards a carer of a different sex, or racial background, or religion, or sexual orientation.
That said, I believe that for others, the robo-nurse would actually change a lot, and positively. As always with matters so complex, there is literally no simplistic approach, no one size fits all solutions, especially not quick ones.
That still leaves us with the fact that in case of an epidemic, robo-nurses and robo-carers could mean a vastly changed numbers of fatalities among the most vulnerable, while somewhat lessening the burdens of the care and nurse sectors. Medical and nursing personnel of all kinds have suffered tremendously throughout the pandemic, have even given their lives to help and keep helping others (quite a striking contrast from those who abandoned their charges, but that, too, is unfortunately a part of human behaviour).
Will we, then, see this debate develop in the next year or so? Will tech giants, and rising stars of innovation, especially those hoping to put robots in homes, weigh in on it? Will we see, like we saw everyone who could chipping in by making masks, sanitisers and medical machinery, developers provide the first few robo-nurses in the next wave, or the next pandemic, or perhaps before, if we begin to think ahead after covid?
One thing is for certain. Whatever path we thread, it is still a part of our humanity. It will bring the challenges and dangers associated with human behaviour. Above all, it may change how we see ourselves and technology in many ways, for better and worse at the same time.