When you think of robots, do you imagine a metallic form, devoid of facial features? Probably not. Most of us, especially at this point in time, when robotics has become more popular and widespread, think of robots as having some human-like resemblance.
Humans have been creating anthropomorphic (human-like) robots going back to ancient Greece. Over the centuries, that attraction has only grown. Particularly in current times, with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics “robot ambassador”, as well as the increasing presence of robots in the home, in movies, and science fiction, our desire to make robots look like us has become stronger than ever.
In this article, we will explore three key reasons as to why we as humans make robots look like ourselves— both culturally and emotionally. We will also take a deeper look into why this is beneficial to both manufacturers and users of robots.
Cultural Identification
Humans, by nature, are attracted to things that are like us. We find comfort and identification in things that mimic our appearance, or in the case of robots, our movements.
To that end, we make robots look like us to give them a greater sense of “familiarity.”
Studies show that humans tend to feel more comfortable interacting with robots that look like us. In a survey conducted by researchers at the University of Duisburg-Essen, they found that humans perceive robot faces as “more like us” when the robot had facial features like eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and cheeks.
Furthermore, the research found that people felt more comfortable with the robot if it had a more humanlike personality.
Embodied Cognition
The idea of embodied cognition is another key reason why we make robots that look like us. This concept argues that when a robot has anthropomorphic features, it makes it easier for humans to understand its behavior and intentions, which in turn helps people to interact with it more naturally.
For example, in one study, when people were asked to view a video of an AI robot (“SoftBank Pepper”) with human-like characteristics, they felt it was more social connected and more humanlike than the same video featuring a robotic animal.
This idea was further reinforced in another study, where participants perceived a robot companion as feeling more real when the robot had a human face and body.
The idea of embodied cognition is perhaps most evident in the design of social robots, which are robots that are specifically designed to interact with humans in a social setting. By giving them human-like facial expressions, gestures, and personalities, social robots are more easily accepted and understood by humans.
Emotional Connection
The third reason why humans are so Drawan to making robots look like us is because it helps us form an emotional connection with the robot.
Humans are inherently social creatures, and it’s in our nature to want to connect with others— even if it’s a robot. Giving robots human-like features gives us a sense that the robot can understand us and feel the same emotions as us.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol found that when humans interacted with a robot with a human face, they were more likely to feel empathy and compassion for the robot.
Furthermore, when a robot was outfitted with more detailed facial features, like eyes, nose, lips, and eyebrows, people felt a stronger connection to the robot and were more trusting of it.
As robots become more integrated into our daily lives, so does our desire to make them look like us. Robots with human features can create a stronger emotional connection and higher level of cultural identification for both users and manufacturers.
The concept of embodied cognition also comes into play, as it is key for humans to form a relationship with robots who look like us.
In conclusion, the reasons why we make robots look like humans have become increasingly evident over the years, and it is likely only to get stronger as robotics, AI, and technology continue to progress.
