Barring some exceptions, humans can’t seem to get social robots quite right. The boundary between endearing and uncanny is tricky terrain when it comes to robots that can engage with humans, answer questions, or lend a hand with chores and errands.
We know that humans don’t like robots that are bossy or talk out of turn. But they do want robots to listen and understand certain social cues. What’s more, designing robots that are human-like can be an ethical minefield. There are issues of privacy to consider, as well as problems with deception and attachment.
Although there have been attempts to instill social skills into virtual agents like chatbots and avatars, physical robots are interesting because they can actually interact with humans and their surroundings as assistants and companions.
However, what experts have found is that people tend to prefer engaging with social robots that are more pet-like, and anecdotal accounts from elderly residents who received social animal robots to combat loneliness during the pandemic supports this.
To learn more about this phenomenon, researchers have been exploring what actual flesh and blood furry friends could teach them about making better robots. Dogs can already do some of the same tasks that early social robots can. But for people who are allergic, or don’t have the capacity to fully care for real dogs, dog-like robots could be a promising alternative.
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