Explaining the eerie side of AI: First coined by roboticist Masahiro Mori in an essay penned in 1970, the term “uncanny valley” explains the feeling of unease or creepiness that we sometimes feel from robots, according to National Geographic. Humans typically view robots positively when they have human-like features and seem relatable, but when robots become too humanlike, there is a sudden plunge in likability, Mori postulated.

Scientists and researchers have proposed several theories to explain this phenomenon: One theory suggests that our discomfort arises from perceiving a threat to our humanity or the possibility of contagious illnesses. Additionally, cognitive explanations suggest that our tendency to attribute human-like qualities and consciousness to artificial beings leads to cognitive dissonance and confusion.

Is there a future for human-robot interactions? Robotics and AI researchers strive to bridge the uncanny valley to create more realistic and socially integrated robots. However, ethical questions arise regarding the extent to which non-human robots should resemble humans and how much information AI should have about us. Some experts, like roboticist Karl MacDorman, an associate dean at the Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing, argue that robots need to replicate humans entirely. On the other hand, Bilge Mutlu, a professor of computer science at the University of Wisconsin Madison believes that what is more important than the robot’s appearance is that they should be designed purposefully and cautiously for specific tasks, rather than attempting to replace human decision-making.

Netflix is joining its rivals by augmenting membership prices in a bid to increase profitability, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. While major streaming platforms like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have increased their service fees by nearly 25% over the past year, Netflix held its course and focused instead on crushing the password-sharing era.

We don’t know when or how much: Netflix declined to comment on when the price hike will be implemented, or how much it will cost viewers. We do know, however, that the new prices should come into effect once the Hollywood strike that has halted the industry to near paralysis — bringing together writers and actors — comes to an end.

More people are choosing to endure ads: Not only are ad-supported plans significantly cheaper for viewers, they are also more profitable for the entertainment platforms themselves. Take for instance Disney: The ad-supported version of the streaming provider will cost USD 6/month less than the ones that are without ads, once the company increases the latter’s prices by mid-October, the WSJ notes.

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