Computers Quote by Sherry Turkle
““If AIBO is in some sense a toy, it is a toy that changes minds. It does this in several ways. It heightens our sense of being close to developing a postbiological life and not just in theory or in the laboratory. And it suggests how this passage will take place. It will begin with our seeing the new life as “as if ” life and then deciding that “as if ” may be life enough. Even now, as we contemplate “creatures” with artificial feelings and intelligence, we come to reflect differently on our own. The question here is not whether machines can be made to think like people but whether people have always thought like machines.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Talk at MIT Media Lab, 2005
The quote argues that toys like AIBO shift our perception of artificial life, making us view it as real and prompting us to reconsider what it means to be human.
In simple terms: AIBO makes us see AI as real, changing how we think about ourselves.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how technology reshapes self‑understanding.
Themes
technology
human identity
perception
AI
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- designing toys
- public debates on AI
- education about robotics
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
postbiological life
artificial intelligence
human‑machine reflection
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do everyday devices alter our self‑concept?
- Can a toy truly change societal mindsets?
A Different Perspective
It may overstate the influence of a single toy on deep philosophical views.
