By Reino（林嘉浚） 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.

The core issue lies in biology and consciousness. Humans feel emotions through hormones and a conscious self-awareness. Robots have circuits and data, no biological brain to produce dopamine or adrenaline, and no sense of “self” to experience feelings. They can’t live through childhood, love, or loss—experiences that shape human emotions.

Some argue advanced AI might one day be sentient, but this is purely theoretical. We don’t even fully understand human consciousness, let alone how to replicate it in a machine.

So, can robots ever feel human emotions? For now, no. But their ability to mimic emotions still makes them valuable—for companionship, supporting mental health, and helping us connect.

In the end, our capacity to feel is what makes us human. And that’s something no robot can replace.

Thank you.