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Relationships 5.0: How AI, VR, and Robots Will Reshape Our Emotional Lives
A trailblazing inquiry into human love and relationships in the age of super-smart technology
Technology is our new life partner. No longer confined to the sidelines, new interactive technologies like AI therapists, avatar friends, and robot assistants are ready to transform technology's role from basic tools of convenience to intimate elements of our social and emotional lives. This turn towards human-like technology signals the beginning of a new epoch in human history, a change already facing both excitement and resistance.
While many are still wary of human-technology companionship, Relationships 5.0 reveals that these novel interactions aren't as risky as we'd once thought, but can instead make our social and emotional lives richer and more diverse. Still, we must What will the age of Relationships 5.0 look like? How should we prepare for such an age? Who might already be ready to embrace these changes, and why?
Guiding readers away from fear and toward a new reality, Relationships 5.0 exposes the fundamental questions behind such essentials as companionship, trust, and love---and offers fascinating and revealing ideas about what the coming years will look like.
Technology is our new life partner. No longer confined to the sidelines, new interactive technologies like AI therapists, avatar friends, and robot assistants are ready to transform technology's role from basic tools of convenience to intimate elements of our social and emotional lives. This turn towards human-like technology signals the beginning of a new epoch in human history, a change already facing both excitement and resistance.
While many are still wary of human-technology companionship, Relationships 5.0 reveals that these novel interactions aren't as risky as we'd once thought, but can instead make our social and emotional lives richer and more diverse. Still, we must What will the age of Relationships 5.0 look like? How should we prepare for such an age? Who might already be ready to embrace these changes, and why?
Guiding readers away from fear and toward a new reality, Relationships 5.0 exposes the fundamental questions behind such essentials as companionship, trust, and love---and offers fascinating and revealing ideas about what the coming years will look like.
- GenresNonfiction
304 pages, Hardcover
Published April 15, 2022
About the author
Elyakim Kislev
3 books8 followersDr. Elyakim Kislev serves as the head of the Honors Program in the School of Public Policy and Governance at the Hebrew University, specializing in minorities, policy and technology, and singles studies. Kislev holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Columbia University and three master's degrees in counseling, public policy, and sociology. He received the U.S. Department of State Fulbright Fellowship and the Award for Outstanding Fulbright Scholars.
Kislev is the author of Happy Singlehood: The Rising Acceptance and Celebration of Solo Living, published by University of California Press. The book has been translated into Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew, Romanian, and several other languages. Happy Singlehood was featured in The Washington Post, The Guardian, HuffPost, Cosmopolitan, The Times, Vice, Metro, Globe and Mail, Elle, New York Daily News, and on CNN, BBC World News, BBC One, BBC Radio, Bloomberg, and covered by top media outlets around the world. Kislev is a regular contributor to Psychology Today and has garnered a million readers.
Kislev's second book, Relationships 5.0, published by Oxford University Press, asks how recent technological developments may cause us to think differently about our family lives, love affairs, and emotional needs. It analyzes three technological revolutions in the making: The cognitive (AI), sensual (VR and AR), and physical (Robots) revolutions. Relationships 5.0 was selected to be on the cover of Oxford's 2021/2022 catalog and the lead title in the Science category.
Kislev is the author of Happy Singlehood: The Rising Acceptance and Celebration of Solo Living, published by University of California Press. The book has been translated into Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew, Romanian, and several other languages. Happy Singlehood was featured in The Washington Post, The Guardian, HuffPost, Cosmopolitan, The Times, Vice, Metro, Globe and Mail, Elle, New York Daily News, and on CNN, BBC World News, BBC One, BBC Radio, Bloomberg, and covered by top media outlets around the world. Kislev is a regular contributor to Psychology Today and has garnered a million readers.
Kislev's second book, Relationships 5.0, published by Oxford University Press, asks how recent technological developments may cause us to think differently about our family lives, love affairs, and emotional needs. It analyzes three technological revolutions in the making: The cognitive (AI), sensual (VR and AR), and physical (Robots) revolutions. Relationships 5.0 was selected to be on the cover of Oxford's 2021/2022 catalog and the lead title in the Science category.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 26, 2022
The first third of this book is a rehash of civilization through the lens of relationship structures, marriage and labor division. The second third is an explainer on VR, AI chatbots and a list of companies working in the space with some personal stories thrown in. If you’re hoping I’m going to say the last third tackles the promise of this book…well maybe I missed it. There are tons of other books (and TechCrunch articles) that tackle these various topics but I did not find some big idea here on the reshaping of our romantic lives that hasn’t been explored in a number of other ways. Could go further with some areas- specifically exploring sexuality and identity with AI, but backs away when it comes to people abusing sex robots and consent. The concept of AI already driving so much of our lives (hi tiktok algo) and how that impacts our romantic and social connections is lost. Much like my review, it all just felt like a spicy tuna roll on a Sunday - you’re hoping it’s good but you know it’s leftover fish from Friday and Saturday.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2022
I was hoping for a fun, pop-sci look at robots, and it was that, but only partly. The first section of the book explores the nature of human relationships from our earliest ancestors onward, and while this could be interesting, it also felt like filler, as I think most people pick up this book expecting something different.
March 23, 2023
Điều mình thấy ấn tượng nhất ở cuốn này là văn phong rất mềm mại, uyển chuyển, bố cục mạch lạc. Người dịch chắc cũng phải giỏi lắm mới chuyển ngữ hay như vậy. Về nội dung thì cơ bản mình biết hơn về cách công nghệ có thể tạo nên cảm xúc hay sự gắn bó với con người. Trong thời đại có nhiều con người cô đơn, loay hoay trong cuộc đời như mình thì có một người bạn ảo cũng là một ý tưởng không tồi.
October 16, 2025
### 書籍大意
《Relationships 5.0: How AI, VR, and Robots Will Reshape Our Emotional Lives》（作者：以色列社會學家Elyakim Kislev，2022年由Oxford University Press出版）是一本探討科技如何重塑人類情感與親密關係的開創性著作。作者將當今人類關係視為「關係5.0」時代，認為AI（人工智慧）、VR/AR（虛擬/擴增實境）和機器人等新興科技不再是邊緣工具，而是成為我們情感、智力與身體需求的「新伴侶」。這些科技透過認知革命（AI）、感官革命（VR/AR）和物理革命（機器人）的匯聚，能滿足傳統上由人類提供的親密需求，讓社會與情感生活更豐富多樣，而非如許多人擔憂般帶來風險。
全書分兩大部分：
- **第一部：個人生活歷史簡述** – 追溯人類關係演變，從狩獵採集社會的「關係1.0」（部落式依賴）、農業社會的「關係2.0」（家庭為中心）、工業社會的「關係3.0」（浪漫愛情與個人主義）、到資訊社會的「關係4.0」（線上連結與全球化）。作者用歷史視角解釋科技如何驅動這些變革。
- **第二部：關係5.0與三大革命** – 深入分析AI如何模擬情感對話、VR/AR如何創造沉浸式感官體驗、機器人如何提供物理陪伴，並探討這些變化對家庭、愛情與情感需求的影響。結論強調，這是人類歷史上類似農業、工業與資訊革命的典範轉移，呼籲社會適應、制定倫理規範（如AI人格權與資料隱私），並擁抱科技帶來的正面潛力。
作者融合科學、社會學、歷史與心理學，主張科技伴侶不僅能補充人類互動（如幫助孤獨者或提升溝通），還能讓關係更彈性、多樣，避免傳統關係的壓力（如婚姻規範）。然而，他也承認挑戰，如倫理疑慮與對人類連結的潛在弱化。
### 書籍精華（關鍵要點）
以下是全書的核心概念，濃縮成幾個主要洞見，幫助讀者快速掌握作者的論點：
1. **關係演進的歷史框架**：人類關係隨科技與社會變遷而升級，從集體依賴到個人自主，再到科技中介的「5.0」階段。作者強調，每一次轉變都帶來恐懼（如工業革命時對家庭解體的擔憂），但最終豐富了生活。
2. **三大科技革命的匯聚**：
- **認知革命（AI）**：AI如聊天機器人或治療師，能理解並回應情感，提供24/7支持，幫助人們練習溝通或處理孤獨。
- **感官革命（VR/AR）**：透過虛擬實境創造沉浸式體驗，如遠距戀人共享虛擬約會，或模擬親密觸感，讓情感連結超越物理距離。
- **物理革命（機器人）**：社交機器人（如陪伴型機器人）提供觸覺互動，預計成為情感伴侶，教導用戶真實愉悅並刺激人際對話。
3. **正面影響與風險平衡**：科技不是取代人類，而是擴展關係多樣性（如單身者或LGBTQ+群體的替代支持）。但需解決倫理問題，如機器人安全、AI收集情感資料的隱私，以及社會對「人機伴侶」的偏見。作者樂觀認為，這些互動能讓情感生活更包容。
4. **未來展望**：呼籲文化適應的法律框架（如AI人格權辯論），並鼓勵個人實驗科技伴侶，以提升真實關係品質。最終，科技能讓我們重新定義愛情、家庭與自我。
這些精華點突顯作者的視野：科技不是威脅，而是機會，讓情感需求更民主化。
### 舉例（書中或相關應用實例）
書中雖以理論為主，但作者透過歷史與未來情境舉例說明概念，以下是幾個典型例子（部分來自書中描述，部分基於其論點延伸的現實應用）：
1. **AI治療師作為情感支持**：想像一位孤獨的老人使用AI聊天App（如Replika），它不僅傾聽抱怨，還根據心理學模型提供建議，幫助用戶練習表達情感。這類AI能模擬同理心，書中舉例類似工具如何減少抑鬱，進而改善用戶與家人的真實互動。
2. **VR虛擬約會重塑遠距愛情**：一對異地戀人透過VR頭盔（如Meta的Horizon Worlds）共享虛擬晚餐，感受對方的「擁抱」振動與視覺親密。書中討論這如何彌補物理分離，讓關係更穩固，尤其在疫情後的全球化社會。
3. **機器人伴侶教導親密**：日本的Pepper機器人或類似性愛機器人，能回應觸摸並引導用戶探索愉悅。作者舉例，這不僅滿足身體需求，還能「訓練」用戶在真實關係中更體貼（如學習給予快樂），避免傳統伴侶間的壓力。書中警告需規範使用，以防濫用，但強調其正面潛力。
這些例子生動展現科技如何從邊緣進入核心，作者用它們證明「關係5.0」不是科幻，而是即將到來的現實。如果你想深入閱讀，推薦從書的引言開始，它概述了整個論述框架。
《Relationships 5.0: How AI, VR, and Robots Will Reshape Our Emotional Lives》（作者：以色列社會學家Elyakim Kislev，2022年由Oxford University Press出版）是一本探討科技如何重塑人類情感與親密關係的開創性著作。作者將當今人類關係視為「關係5.0」時代，認為AI（人工智慧）、VR/AR（虛擬/擴增實境）和機器人等新興科技不再是邊緣工具，而是成為我們情感、智力與身體需求的「新伴侶」。這些科技透過認知革命（AI）、感官革命（VR/AR）和物理革命（機器人）的匯聚，能滿足傳統上由人類提供的親密需求，讓社會與情感生活更豐富多樣，而非如許多人擔憂般帶來風險。
全書分兩大部分：
- **第一部：個人生活歷史簡述** – 追溯人類關係演變，從狩獵採集社會的「關係1.0」（部落式依賴）、農業社會的「關係2.0」（家庭為中心）、工業社會的「關係3.0」（浪漫愛情與個人主義）、到資訊社會的「關係4.0」（線上連結與全球化）。作者用歷史視角解釋科技如何驅動這些變革。
- **第二部：關係5.0與三大革命** – 深入分析AI如何模擬情感對話、VR/AR如何創造沉浸式感官體驗、機器人如何提供物理陪伴，並探討這些變化對家庭、愛情與情感需求的影響。結論強調，這是人類歷史上類似農業、工業與資訊革命的典範轉移，呼籲社會適應、制定倫理規範（如AI人格權與資料隱私），並擁抱科技帶來的正面潛力。
作者融合科學、社會學、歷史與心理學，主張科技伴侶不僅能補充人類互動（如幫助孤獨者或提升溝通），還能讓關係更彈性、多樣，避免傳統關係的壓力（如婚姻規範）。然而，他也承認挑戰，如倫理疑慮與對人類連結的潛在弱化。
### 書籍精華（關鍵要點）
以下是全書的核心概念，濃縮成幾個主要洞見，幫助讀者快速掌握作者的論點：
1. **關係演進的歷史框架**：人類關係隨科技與社會變遷而升級，從集體依賴到個人自主，再到科技中介的「5.0」階段。作者強調，每一次轉變都帶來恐懼（如工業革命時對家庭解體的擔憂），但最終豐富了生活。
2. **三大科技革命的匯聚**：
- **認知革命（AI）**：AI如聊天機器人或治療師，能理解並回應情感，提供24/7支持，幫助人們練習溝通或處理孤獨。
- **感官革命（VR/AR）**：透過虛擬實境創造沉浸式體驗，如遠距戀人共享虛擬約會，或模擬親密觸感，讓情感連結超越物理距離。
- **物理革命（機器人）**：社交機器人（如陪伴型機器人）提供觸覺互動，預計成為情感伴侶，教導用戶真實愉悅並刺激人際對話。
3. **正面影響與風險平衡**：科技不是取代人類，而是擴展關係多樣性（如單身者或LGBTQ+群體的替代支持）。但需解決倫理問題，如機器人安全、AI收集情感資料的隱私，以及社會對「人機伴侶」的偏見。作者樂觀認為，這些互動能讓情感生活更包容。
4. **未來展望**：呼籲文化適應的法律框架（如AI人格權辯論），並鼓勵個人實驗科技伴侶，以提升真實關係品質。最終，科技能讓我們重新定義愛情、家庭與自我。
這些精華點突顯作者的視野：科技不是威脅，而是機會，讓情感需求更民主化。
### 舉例（書中或相關應用實例）
書中雖以理論為主，但作者透過歷史與未來情境舉例說明概念，以下是幾個典型例子（部分來自書中描述，部分基於其論點延伸的現實應用）：
1. **AI治療師作為情感支持**：想像一位孤獨的老人使用AI聊天App（如Replika），它不僅傾聽抱怨，還根據心理學模型提供建議，幫助用戶練習表達情感。這類AI能模擬同理心，書中舉例類似工具如何減少抑鬱，進而改善用戶與家人的真實互動。
2. **VR虛擬約會重塑遠距愛情**：一對異地戀人透過VR頭盔（如Meta的Horizon Worlds）共享虛擬晚餐，感受對方的「擁抱」振動與視覺親密。書中討論這如何彌補物理分離，讓關係更穩固，尤其在疫情後的全球化社會。
3. **機器人伴侶教導親密**：日本的Pepper機器人或類似性愛機器人，能回應觸摸並引導用戶探索愉悅。作者舉例，這不僅滿足身體需求，還能「訓練」用戶在真實關係中更體貼（如學習給予快樂），避免傳統伴侶間的壓力。書中警告需規範使用，以防濫用，但強調其正面潛力。
這些例子生動展現科技如何從邊緣進入核心，作者用它們證明「關係5.0」不是科幻，而是即將到來的現實。如果你想深入閱讀，推薦從書的引言開始，它概述了整個論述框架。
January 19, 2025
Falls in the genre of Ray Kurzweil idealism
when you are arguing for gay robots to promote the acceptance of homosexuality ......it is only a matter of time until that line of reasoning leads to arguing for obese robots to promote the acceptance of obesity
the experience of the 20th and early 21st century when it comes to technology counters the argument that we can strengthen connections, form new friendships, and have diversified emotional attachments. Such an idealistic viewpoint indicates that the author is sublimely ignorant of cyberpunk literature and historical parallels in older technology. It looks like Oxford University Press just needed a spiffy title to hit the bookstores.
when you are arguing for gay robots to promote the acceptance of homosexuality ......it is only a matter of time until that line of reasoning leads to arguing for obese robots to promote the acceptance of obesity
the experience of the 20th and early 21st century when it comes to technology counters the argument that we can strengthen connections, form new friendships, and have diversified emotional attachments. Such an idealistic viewpoint indicates that the author is sublimely ignorant of cyberpunk literature and historical parallels in older technology. It looks like Oxford University Press just needed a spiffy title to hit the bookstores.
January 2, 2023
A fascinating foray into history, sociology, economics, politics, and psychology. This well-researched and highly detailed and citation-filled text explores the intricate role changes in technology have had on society and relationships within and between groups throughout history. Though, the material I quite densely packed into the 240 pages, Elyakim Kislev’s narrative style helps material flow logically and keeps you riveted at what morsel of information you will uncover next. I plan to add this book to my permanent library, as it has great potential for helping show cross curricular connections between science, history, and the arts.
February 11, 2024
Kislev has written a remarkable book that explores the impact of emerging technology on our future as humans. The book is about various aspects of AI and technology, including the intriguing question of whether robots will eventually replace our love life. Personally, I am very much interested in such topics which are future of mankind. It's a good read and highly recommended.
May 2, 2022
Excellent read encompassing the history of romantic relationships from past to present to future. It is filled with new insights and the premise that we are bound to change the nature of our relationships as we evolved as human beings.
May 2, 2022
This is the cutting edge of books on the subjects of AI, VR, and robotics. Very insightful and left me pondering on the future of humanity
February 10, 2024
Good book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews