Social robot or digital avatar, users interact with this AI technology as if it’s real
Brigitte Viljoen, Elizabeth Day · 2024
Humans are interacting more than ever with artificial intelligence (AI) -from the development of the first "social robots" (a robot with a physical body programmed to interact and engage with humans) like Kismet in the 1990s to smart speakers such as Amazon's Alexa.But this technology is changing how humans relate with it -and with each other.Our new research looked at how humans experience interacting with AI social robots or digital avatars -AI virtual chatbots designed to look and interact like a human on a device.These are designed to increase human interaction with them.Social robots such as ElliQ and Pepper are popular in Europe, Japan and the United States, particularly as aids for the elderly.New Zealand has been slower to adopt these technologies.Since the pandemic, social robots and digital avatars have been used to address issues such loneliness and mental health issues.In one Scottish experiment during the pandemic, people were introduced to social robot "Pepper" over regular video chats.The researchers found the interactions lifted the mood of the participants. GettyImages. Social robot or digital avatar, users interact with this AI technology as if it's real