Ethical Implications of Humanoids in Real Life, Literature and in Films

WAHAJ UNNISA WARDA

Abstract


This study analyses Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun (KATS), Ian McEwan’s Machines Like Me (MLM), the film Blade Runner, and the humanoid robot Sophia. This study tries to explore the relationship between the uncanny valley and post-humanism in literature and film. The research examines whether these narratives present utopian ideals or dystopian warnings regarding technological integration by investigating the social, ethical, and psychological implications of human-like entities. To analyse how AI and humans are portrayed across literary, cinematic, and scientific contexts, it utilises a qualitative, multidisciplinary methodology, thereby synthesising insights from vulnerability studies, post-humanism, and humanism. A comparative study of Sophia, Adam, Klara and the Replicants elucidates the range of human-AI interactions and the challenges of defining moral agency. The key finding indicates that the "uncanny valley" emerges as the root cause of unease and anxiety about AI taking on human roles, central to understanding human reactions to humanoids. Where it was formerly believed that human-like features could foster psychological bonding, it is now the main reason for concern, as it leads to emotional manipulation and the unwavering nature of these relationships. The highlight of the research is the need to develop AI with human values based on the ethical dilemmas of endowing AI with human qualities. Finally, the study necessitates the establishment of ethical guidelines for artificial beings with primary focus on transparency, data protection, and continuous assessment- thereby ensuring that AI design respects human values and fosters an empathetic understanding between humans and machines. 


Keywords: Uncanny Valley; Post-humanism; Humanoids; Artificial Intelligence; Vulnerability Studies



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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/3L-2026-3203-10

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