JANUARY 26, 2017|TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE
Why People Prefer Serious Robots (For Now)
As robots get cuter, quirkier and more human, it is easy to assume that likeability is the thing standing between us and mass adoption. A study from Penn State researchers offers more proof that the biggest barrier to robot adoption is us humans, and how willing we are to interact with our robotic helpers at all.
The counterintuitive conclusion of the research is that companion robots which are more serious might actually help with that adoption, because we see them as less threatening. A machine that stays in its lane and behaves like a tool is easier to let into your home than one that acts like it wants to be your friend.
At least for now.
Related Posts
Book Rohit To Speak
Want to bring these ideas to your next event?
Rohit turns the thinking behind posts like this one into keynotes for audiences around the world, from Fortune 500 leadership teams to global industry conferences.
Learn More About Speaking
How It All Started
A Short Backstory Of This Blog
This is a blog about non-obvious ideas. Originally launched on the Typepad platform in 2005 as the Influential Marketing blog, the stories at first focused mainly on digital marketing while Rohit worked at Ogilvy Advertising. In 2015 Rohit officially rebranded to the Non-Obvious Insights Blog and published his WSJ bestseller Non-Obvious. For the past twenty one years, this blog has coined new terms, introduced future marketing practices and inspired the next generation of non-obvious thinkers and marketers.
