By Reino (Lin Jiajun) from 2402

Good morning/afternoon, everyone.

Today, I’d like to explore a thought-provoking question: Can robots ever feel human emotions?

First, let’s define human emotions. They are not just simple reactions, but complex experiences tied to our biology, memories, and sense of self—like the joy of hugging a loved one or the sadness of loss. These feelings come from hormones, neural activity, and a lifetime of lived experiences.

Today’s robots can mimic emotions brilliantly. They recognize facial expressions and tone of voice, then respond with smiles or empathetic phrases. But mimicry is not experience. A robot that smiles isn’t feeling joy—it’s just following a program.