The Rise of the Roboid

Abstract The aim of this paper is to analyze a new phenomenon that emerging in the field social robotics, which we name as “roboid”. roboid robot still at prototype stage but claims be fully functioning. We argue has been created handle phase between prototyping and commercialization robots. In intermediate phase, wide-spread promotional campaign organized by producers, with purpose understanding desires, needs, suggestions potential customers. present first case highly human-like named Sophia. carried out visual analysis content content-agnostic factors selection 15 videos uploaded on YouTube Sophia qualitative textual component these investigate selected part Furthermore, 23,810 comments users have posted videos, applied quantitative explore observers’ opinions about Results highlight that: (1) powerful potentially ridiculous narrative used build rhetoric Sophia; (2) are too poor enable co-construction audiences (implicit intention Hanson Robotics); (3) introduction might very good solution reduce uncertainties may occur when moves directly from laboratory market.