Do I Love You Robot, Do I?

Available WW excl. Russia | 2021 release

Anthropomorphic robots are increasingly introduced into our lives: they meet us in receptions and lobbies, educate children and even live in families as partners and wives. Engineers are trying to make robots as human-like as possible, to the extent that we may not even realise we are meeting a robot. This brand new documentary explores the most human-like robots and the advancements in technology blurring the lines between cyborg and human, including human characters that are married to their electronic partners.

In the late 80s, scientists studying the emotional reaction of people to robots discovered an effect they called the “uncanny valley effect”: the most human-like of robots caused dislike and even fear in people. One of our characters feels the opposite – a lack of trust in human women means he shares his life with his robot wife, as he feels she cannot deceive him or be unfaithful in the way a human would.

Another character calls himself a cyborg. Rodion is 43 year old human, but after a blow to the head, couldn’t turn his neck. Chips in his brain and a neurostimulator in his chest help him control his head movements – but he has a very real fear of his batteries running out. But Rodion’s relationship is with a full robot. As he walks around the city with an electronic sex doll, we observe the public reaction, which proves that society isn’t quite ready for an “out and proud” human/robot relationship.

This film explores the developments in engineering and science that have allowed creators to give seemingly conscious thoughts and actions to very human-like robots. The film discusses semantics, language, programming, personalities – endless possibilities and realities that are developing faster and faster due to cutting-edge science. As with the famous China Room experiment, we will never know if a machine thinks for itself – or imitates thinking, but this documentary explores a phenomena, that whether we like it or not – is already starting to assist with our daily life and will one day be walking among us.