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Ethics of the Design of Animal-like Robots.

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Title: Ethics of the Design of Animal-like Robots.
Authors: Mamak, Kamil1 (AUTHOR) kamil.mamak@gmail.com, Takeshita, Masashi2 (AUTHOR) takeshita.masashi.68@gmail.com, Shimizu, Hayate3 (AUTHOR) shimizu.philo@gmail.com
Source: Science & Engineering Ethics. Jun2026, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p1-18. 18p.
Subjects: Ethics, Robot design & construction, Reification, Deception, Animatronics, Human-animal relationships
Abstract: In the ethical literature on robot design, considerable attention has been devoted to the risks that human-like robots pose to humans. In particular, the resemblance of robots to humans has been associated with concerns about social disruption, deception, and potential harm, leading some authors to argue for restrictions or bans in certain contexts. However, while the ethical significance of human-like form has been widely recognized for humans, significantly less attention has been paid to the implications of animal-like robots from the perspective of nonhuman animals and human–animal relations. This paper addresses that gap by examining how the design and deployment of animal-like robots may affect animals both directly and indirectly. We argue that the use of animal form in robotics is not ethically neutral, as it can shape human perceptions of animals, influence patterns of interaction, and potentially contribute to harms such as mislearning, objectification, and alienation. By shifting the focus from human-centered concerns to the impact on animals, we identify a set of ethically relevant risks associated with animal-like robots and analyze their broader implications for human–animal relations. On this basis, we propose preliminary guidelines aimed at supporting the responsible design and use of such technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Science & Engineering Ethics is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Ethics of the Design of Animal-like Robots.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mamak%2C+Kamil%22">Mamak, Kamil</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> kamil.mamak@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Takeshita%2C+Masashi%22">Takeshita, Masashi</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> takeshita.masashi.68@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shimizu%2C+Hayate%22">Shimizu, Hayate</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> shimizu.philo@gmail.com</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethics%22">Ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Robot+design+%26+construction%22">Robot design & construction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reification%22">Reification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deception%22">Deception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Animatronics%22">Animatronics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human-animal+relationships%22">Human-animal relationships</searchLink>
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  Data: In the ethical literature on robot design, considerable attention has been devoted to the risks that human-like robots pose to humans. In particular, the resemblance of robots to humans has been associated with concerns about social disruption, deception, and potential harm, leading some authors to argue for restrictions or bans in certain contexts. However, while the ethical significance of human-like form has been widely recognized for humans, significantly less attention has been paid to the implications of animal-like robots from the perspective of nonhuman animals and human–animal relations. This paper addresses that gap by examining how the design and deployment of animal-like robots may affect animals both directly and indirectly. We argue that the use of animal form in robotics is not ethically neutral, as it can shape human perceptions of animals, influence patterns of interaction, and potentially contribute to harms such as mislearning, objectification, and alienation. By shifting the focus from human-centered concerns to the impact on animals, we identify a set of ethically relevant risks associated with animal-like robots and analyze their broader implications for human–animal relations. On this basis, we propose preliminary guidelines aimed at supporting the responsible design and use of such technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Science & Engineering Ethics is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1007/s11948-026-00595-y
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Robot design & construction
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      – SubjectFull: Reification
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      – SubjectFull: Animatronics
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      – SubjectFull: Human-animal relationships
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              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
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              Y: 2026
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