Mind Perception of Robots Varies With Their Economic Versus Social Function

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Robotics

Background:

• Traditionally, robots were designed for economic efficiency.
• Emerging roles for robots include social support and companionship.
• The impact of robot function on human perception requires examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if a robot's intended function (social vs. economic) affects human judgments of its mind.
• To explore how function influences the moral treatment of robots.

Main Methods:

• Four studies were conducted to assess human perceptions of robots.
• Participants evaluated robots based on their proposed social or economic functions.
• Ascribed mental capacities (emotion, cognition) and moral treatment were measured.

Main Results:

• Robots with social functions were perceived to have greater emotional capacity, but not cognitive capacity.
• Economic function and value influenced perceptions of cognitive capacity.
• Social function and value influenced perceptions of emotional capacity.
• Robots with higher social value received greater protection from harm, linked to perceived emotional experience.

Conclusions:

• A dissociation exists between robot function type and ascribed mental capacities (emotion vs. cognition).
• Social and economic functions have asymmetric influences on the moral treatment of robots.
• Findings have implications for designing socially assistive robots and understanding human-robot relationships.