We live in a technological age in which artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent, whereby not only is a current moment recorded with several technological innovations, but above all new forms of relationship and interaction between people and non-people as well as between the real world and the virtual world. In this sense, we are experiencing a new era in which humanoid robots are gaining space in social life and new scientific and social perspectives are emerging.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already penetrating into the smallest and most private areas of our lives - Alexa, Siri and Co. are already at home in many living rooms and bedrooms and are happy to listen. Even in the field of computer games, social networks, or the digital sex industry, human and non-human relationships are already merging. This interlinking of the virtual and the real world, spurred on by improved AI technology, will continue to gain momentum, and of course this will have an impact on our social behavior. We will also increasingly experience real partnerships between people and machines, not only in Japan can you already notice such tendencies. As is so often the case, these developments have both good and dubious aspects, and the discussion about implications cannot be initiated early enough. Caring for and caring for the elderly, for example, poses great challenges for many countries and robotics and AI can, if used sensibly, be of great benefit here. However, problems could arise from incorrect, too humanized expectations of emotional intelligence or the competence of humanoid robots. Such applications of AI technologies should not be driven and controlled solely by economic interests, but should be mapped out by well-informed political decisions.