Robot Love: Can We Learn from Robots About Love?

Robot Love presents a highly topical theme: what does it mean to be human and to love in the context of robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)? How do we preserve certain distinctive qualities while we are merging with machines? Will we outsource love and affection to robots? There is already a tendency to see ourselves as quantitative machines. Meanwhile, in order to become human aware, robots need to incorporate typical human qualities - qualities such as emotion, intuition, and most of all love. Now that human-like machines are entering the domestic sphere, AI may act as a mirror allowing us to delve deeper into ourselves and the current state of society. Robot Love, combining art, neuroscience, robotics and ethics, is like a force from the future we cannot yet grasp, but urges us to ask: can we learn from robots about love? This lavishly illustrated book accompanies the Robot Love exhibition at the Niet Normaal Foundation throughout 2018 presenting the work of 60 international artists working at the cutting edge of art, technology and social change, including Matthew Barney, Roger Hiorns, Hito Steyerl, Philippe Parreno and LA Raeven. Renowned scientists and authors such as Margaret Atwood, Reza Negarestani, Katarina Kolozova and Tobias Revell contribute with exploratory and persuasive essays. They make us aware of science fiction becoming science fact.

Ine Gevers, artistic director of the Niet Normaal Foundation, is the driving force behind both the exhibition and the book. The editorial board further consists of: Klaas Kuitenbrouwer, Martijntje Smits and Iris van der Tuin. Design: Autobahn Studio.