[Source](https://pixabay.com/photos/robot-woman-face-cry-sad-3010309/)
When we first picture a robot, what is the first image that pops into your head? A metallic being with calculated movements, made of metals and wires, talks like it is controlled and the likes. But then imagine a robot, with a warm brown skin like a human, probably long wavy hair if it is a female or with a short hair cut for a male. Added with natural speech and probably thinks and feels the way humans do. It sounds surreal doesn't it? But there is no denying the possibility. With the way advancement in technology is growing at an alarming rate, the future might hold just that for us. An emotionally intelligent robot that not only looks like a human, but also talks and behaves like one. We may not even be able to distinguish between a human and a robot at one glance in time.
I’m not sure I know how I feel concerning that. The thought of it sound so fictitious and unreal. Like a scifi movie or something. But if that day were ever to come, it may be a little creepy at first. But the more I thought about it, it could also be fascinating and fun. Having a humanlike robot that keeps you company, understands you, discuss and interact meaningfully with you, laughs with you, cry with you and celebrate good moments with you. I mean beneath all the fear at first, it would be awesome. To have such a companion for a robot, it would really be incredible.
However, friendship is more than just shared emotions and interaction. Friendship entails, trust, having each other's back, it requires time to build and most of all love. Could a robot truly be capable of all that. Whether human like or not, can a robot exhibit all these. If yes, then I’m open to such a connection. If such a robot could truly display empathy, support me in ways a friend would, respect my boundaries and is trustworthy enough to not probe into my personal life without asking for permission or share my details and data with just anyone. Then maybe, a human like robot as a friend may not be a bad idea.
For people who suffer from loneliness and depression, I think having one or two of these human-like robots around would be such a great upliftment to their spirits and could improve their mental health and aid speedily recovery.
But it is necessary to remember that no matter how human-like the robots could get, it is not human and all the emotions and feelings it may seem to possess are not natural but only codes programmed into them. An evolution like that should not replace the essence of human relationship. It would be a shame to lose the deep connections that make us human for some artificial ones.
To sum it up, there is a great possibility of a human-like robot being a friend to us, keeping us company and supporting us in amazing ways, but it shouldn't replace real people in our lives.
