My recent New York Times op-ed on robot caregivers for older adults has elicited curiosity, enthusiasm and controversy.

I have to admit that my own first reaction to the topic was captured in the NYT letter from Sherry Turkle whom I mention in the piece.I was in a meeting and turned to a colleague, clumsily patted her on the back and said, “It…is…ok. Do…not…cry…” And we all laughed.

Then I started reading about robotics and robot caregivers and thinking about what they might do for the elderly,...