What if Shrek was a robot? This thought experiment makes us question what it means to be alive and conscious. If we could create a robot with programmed emotions would those feelings be real or simulated? If a robot thinks and feels like a human, would it have the same rights and privileges as a biological being?

Humans judge the rights and privileges of other species based on criteria such as intelligence, capacity to feel pleasure and ability to form social connections; puppies enjoy more rights than donkeys and chickens because they are smarter and form deeper social connections. If Tech Shrek were smarter than us or had a higher capacity to feel joy or social connections, would it deserve more rights and privileges than we do? Something to think about.