Imitating the Human. New Human–Machine Interactions in Social Robots

Bibliographic Data

ID8108976
AuthorsJohanna Seifert (0000-0003-0868-4585, corresponding author), Otto Friedrich (0000-0003-1608-175X), Sebastian Schleidgen (0000-0002-7564-8675)
Year2022
Volume16
Issue2
Pages181-192
Publication date2022-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNanoEthics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1871-4757 • E-ISSN: 1871-4765
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s11569-022-00418-x
OpenAlexW4292324270
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited13

Social robots are designed to perform intelligent, emotional, and autonomous behavior in order to establish intimate relationships with humans, for instance, in the context of elderly care. However, the imitation of qualities usually assumed to be necessary for human reciprocal interaction may impact our understanding of social interaction. Against this background, we compare the technical operations based on which social robots imitate human-like behavior with the concepts of emotionality, intelligence, and autonomy as usually attached to humans. In doing so, we aim at making a conceptual contribution to the intuition that the technical imitation of emotional, intelligent, and autonomous behavior differs qualitatively from human forms of emotionality, intelligence, and autonomy. We conclude that the increasing tendency of social robots to imitate human characteristics and the thus increased human tendency of anthropomorphizing technical systems put forth new forms of human–machine interactions (HMI) that call for a critical examination. Thus, the emerging forms of interaction may lead, for instance, to false, reinforced, and perplexing assumptions regarding reciprocity. Therefore, studies are needed that critically examine the potential consequences and psychological effects that may be associated with the use of social robots, especially with regard to vulnerable groups such as children or the elderly

Autonomy · Cognitive psychology · Cognitive science · Empathy · Epistemology · Human–robot interaction · Imitation · Intuition · Mobile robot · Philosophy of science · Philosophy of technology · Reciprocity (cultural anthropology · Robot · Robot control · Social intelligence · Social relation · Social robot · AI in Service Interactions · Computer Science · Ethics and Social Impacts of AI · Psychology · Social Robot Interaction and HRI · Artificial Intelligence · Social Psychology

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