Can artificial agents do research on the effects of humans’ interactions with artificial agents?
If we are interested in how we humans react when we interact with humanlike artificial agents, such as service robots and chatbots, and if we think that it is valuable to do research on these matters, why not let the artificial agents do this research themselves? After all, they are becoming increasingly sophisticated. And robot scientists have been created in other fields.
We need to talk more about anthropomorphism
We will soon spend more time with various human-like technologies, such as AI-powered service robots, so we must expect that we will anthropomorphize them. That is to say, we will react to non-humans in ways that are similar to our reactions to real humans – and this is likely to influence us in several ways. One possibility is that anthropomorphism reduces some of our ability to be critical of new technologies; another possibility is that we may become too critical and thus not appreciate what is actually good for us. This text is a translation of an essay that was originally published in Swedish in Organisation och Samhälle.
AI and non-human agents in virtual worlds
Non-human agents used in real life settings, for example, chatbots and embodied service robots, and as a result of AI, are more and more capable of simulating humanlike behavior. This is likely to boost their acceptance and perceived usefulness. Non-human agents appear also in virtual worlds, but their behaviors are often less humanlike. This, however, may change: such agents are likely to become increasingly AI-powered, too. And when this happens, many lines will be blurred.
If you can have your service robot gendered, would you like it to be female or male?
I believe that I can predict your answer to this question when it comes to service robots that help users in their homes. If you are like the participants in a study I just made, I predict that you want your service robot to be female gendered.
Interview with Lina Wolff
Lina Wolff is a successful Swedish author of literary fiction. In this conversation, she suggests several ways by which an author – by using text – can imbue fictive characters in a narrative with human characteristics.
Interview with Iwette Rapoport
We had a chance to talk to Iwette Rapoport, CEO and founder of Change Collective – an organization helping firms and their employees when employees have been subject to domestic violence.
A chat with ChatGPT about theory of mind
The abilities of ChatGTP, an advanced AI-based language model, have surprised many. Some users have given the bot tests of an advanced human capability.