Robotics ethicist Kate Darling said on Tuesday (March 3) AI’s value lies in supplementing human abilities rather than mirroring them.

Darling, who leads the Robotics, Ethics & Society research team at the RAI Institute in Cambridge, said current debates remain too focused on replacement, overlooking how different skill sets could be combined to benefit society. She compared the help provided by domesticated animals to humans to the support that AI can provide.

“I like to make the analogy to animal intelligence and skill and how throughout history we've used animals for work, weaponry, companionship, not because they do what we do, but because their skill sets are different. And that's useful to us,” she told Reuters during an interview in the MWC sideline meeting Talent Arena

Darling still warned about the need of regulations as consumers are often expected to navigate AI risks on their own. She said companies are not incentivised to prioritise safety or user wellbeing and regulatory frameworks, mainly set by governments, should guide companies to achieve responsible development and not only focus on profitability.

She also warned that emotional bonds forming between users and advanced chatbots raise risks around privacy, data security and behavioural manipulation, including political influence.

She added that the non‑judgmental interaction that such systems offer may help with loneliness or health issues, but warned many business models rely on extracting personal data or keeping users engaged in ways that may not align with the user interests.

Production: Horaci Garcia, Silvio Castellanos/Reuters