Do We Need Humans?

We consider the promises and perils of our relationship with technology. Sherry Turkle, described as the "Margaret Mead of digital culture," looks at how devices and online personas are redefining human connection. Cynthia Breazeal, founder and director of the Personal Robots Group at MIT's Media Lab, discusses the rise of the personal robot. Andrew McAfee, who studies how information technology affects businesses and society, considers what humans will do as droids take over our jobs. Physician and writer Abraham Verghese describes our strange new world where patients are data points, and calls for a return to the traditional physical exam.

Learn more or listen again to this week's episode, which originally aired August 18, 2013.

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