As AI companions, such as robots and chatbots, become increasingly integrated into our personal and social lives, it’s crucial to consider the cultural background of the individuals they interact with. The field of cultural robotics aims to design robots that can adjust their behavior according to the user’s cultural background, but this approach can be flawed if based on broad stereotypes and generalizations. Users may not always understand what they want or need in an AI companion, and the technologies themselves, such as large language models, can be biased. It’s essential to be critical of these biases when shaping AI companions. Furthermore, professionals informed about culture and its impact on AI companionship should assist or consult users and providers in tailoring AI companions to individual needs and cultural expectations, rather than relying on sweeping generalizations that can perpetuate stereotypes.

by Llama 3 70B Instruct (with minor edits)