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https://theconversation.com/social-robot-or-digital-avatar-users-interact-with-this-ai-technology-as-if-its-real-229798>
"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.
Given the uncertainties around the long-term usage of these types of
technologies, researchers and policymakers have a responsibility to question
how these will affect humans, individually and in wider society."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
