--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing missing if you take a…" description: "\"“The first thing missing if you take a robot as a companion is alterity, the ability to see the world through the eyes of another.5 Without alterity, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/sherry-turkle-2764_companion_the-first-thing-missing-if-you-take-a-ro_1805279.png" --- # The first thing missing if you take a robot as a companion… ![“The first thing missing if you take a robot as a companion is alterity, the ability to see the world through the eyes of another.5 Without alterity, there can be no empathy.” quote by Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/sherry-turkle-2764_companion_the-first-thing-missing-if-you-take-a-ro_1805279.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/sherry-turkle-2764_companion_the-first-thing-missing-if-you-take-a-ro_1805279.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/sherry-turkle-2764_companion_the-first-thing-missing-if-you-take-a-ro_1805279.png) > ““The first thing missing if you take a robot as a companion is alterity, the ability to see the world through the eyes of another.5 Without alterity, there can be no empathy.”” [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Robots lack alterity, the capacity to view the world from another's perspective, which is essential for empathy. **In simple terms:** Robots can’t truly understand others. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of AI companionship. Themes technology empathy human connection Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - robotic assistants - virtual reality therapy - customer service chatbots Key Concepts alterity theory of mind social cognition Questions to Reflect On - Can machines ever truly understand human feelings? - How does alterity shape our relationships? A Different Perspective AI may simulate empathy but cannot experience it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alterity Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alterity-ability-2067384/) [Alterity Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alterity-empathy-2067383/) [Companion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companion/) [Companion Alterity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companion-alterity-2067381/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Robot Companion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robot-companion-2067382/) [Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [Even now, despite Angeline's watchfulness, she'd occasionally oscillate between random topics, like how shepherd's pie wasn't a pie at all and why it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/even-now-despite-angeline-s-watchfulness-she-d-occasionally-oscillate/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“if your pet is a robot, it might always stay a cute puppy. 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This is a good thing because it challenges us to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-selfie-like-all-technology-causes-us-to-reflect-on-our-human/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Technology doesn't just do things for us. It does things to us, changing not just what we do but who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/technology-doesn-t-just-do-things-for-us-it-does-things-to-us/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) [Explore all 151 Sherry Turkle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) ## More Companion quotes > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. 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