ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the issue of consumer markets for companionate robots. It focuses as closely as possible on companionate robots' relevance to friendship. Potential purchasers of robot companions would be strongly motivated to spend their money wisely. Money that could be spent on a robot could also be spent out on dinners with human friends, travel, clothes, entertainment, or basic necessities. Matthias Scheutz argues that the unidirectional bonds humans form with social robots can be dangerous. Companionate robots in nursing homes and therapeutic robots for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may fool vulnerable patients into thinking these artifacts are their friends. But on a consumer market, consumers are doubly protected against such deception. First, basic truth-in-advertising and truth-in-labeling guidelines should protect against consumers being deceived as to the nature of what they purchase. That is, under even a laissez-faire capitalist system, consumers should be aware of the fact that they are purchasing robotic companions.
