Robot-Touch Promotes Memory Sensitization

Research show that we are more skeptical of the machines than fellow humans. They also find reluctant to change this perception in spite possibility for increased efficiency through cooperative engagement with them. However, these findings primarily focused on algorithmic agents may not readily be attributable case robots. To fill gap, present study investigated whether background information about level autonomy a robot would have any effect its by individuals whom it made physical contact with. For purpose, conducted an experiment which robot-arm touched left arm thirty young Japanese adults (fifteen females, age: 22 ± 1.64) two trials. While was autonomous both trials, told our participants one their trials controlled human operator while other moved autonomously. We observed previous soft extended robots significantly preferred trial supposedly operated human. More importantly, identified memory sensitization respect trial-order first trial, regardless robot- or human-controlled scenario. As type nondeclarative contributes nonassociative learning, highlighted participants’ growing perceptual distance robot-touch triggered unconscious learning-component robot. The substantiate necessity in-depth and socially situated analysis new generation tools better comprehend extent (dis)advantages effectively introduce them society.