Robots, empathy and emotions

Joyful happy boy hugging a robot

The idea of a life-like robot as a member of the family is nothing new – there have been films, TV shows and books on the topic for decades. But what was long situated in the realm of science fiction is now becoming reality. Robots of today have the shape of humans and animals, they are entertaining and ‘cute’, and they are gaining access to our schools, hospitals, homes and even our beds. Thanks to artificial intelligence, robots are capable of analysing our mood and feelings, and they can react accordingly.

Focus of the study

When robots have human characteristics, we begin to see them as ‘trustworthy’. Nevertheless, they are and remain machines, and their seemingly empathetic nature is, at least today, nothing more than clever programming. But what influence do robots actually have in our society and on the people who interact with them? Are robots perhaps even more spy than confidante? Who is behind the façade? And who benefits more: users or manufacturers who process the data collected? And what do we expect from these machines – or better: what should we expect from them? Numerous sociological, psychological, economic, philosophical and legal questions connected to current and future use and the potential of robots remain unresolved. This TA study seeks answers.

Links and downloads

Report: «Soziale Roboter, Empathie und Emotionen»
PDF
Guest article «VertrauenswĂŒrdige Roboter?» NZZ, 20. march 2019
PDF

Video

Organisation

Project duration

July 2019 to February 2021

Project leaders

  • Professor Hartmut Schulze, School of Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland / FHNW
  • Professor Oliver Bendel, School of Business, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland / FHNW
  • Professor Maria Schubert, School of Health Professions
    Institute of Nursing, Zurich University of Applied Sciences / ZHAW

Supervisory group

  • David Altwegg, Ă©conome et ingĂ©nieur, membre du ComitĂ© Directeur TA-SWISS, prĂ©sident du groupe d’accompagnement
  • Huma Khamis, journaliste scientifique RTS, membre du ComitĂ© Directeur TA-SWISS
  • Dr. Jean Hennebert, DĂ©partement d’informatique Uni Fribourg, membre du ComitĂ© Directeur TA-SWISS
  • Prof. Dr. Lorenz Hilty, DĂ©partement d'informatique de l'UniversitĂ© de Zurich et DĂ©partement de technologie et sociĂ©tĂ© de l'Empa, membre du ComitĂ© Directeur TA-SWISS
  • Prof. Dr. Maya Zumstein-Shaha , Commission nationale d'Ă©thique pour la mĂ©decine humaine CNE, InvitĂ©e du ComitĂ© Directeur TA-SWISS
  • Prof. Dr. Giatgen Spinas, HĂŽpital universitaire de Zurich, membre du ComitĂ© Directeur TA-SWISS
  • Prof. David Rudrauf, Laboratoire de modĂ©lisation multimodale de l’émotion et du ressenti, UniversitĂ© de GenĂšve
  • Prof. Dr. Nadia Magnenat, Domaine de recherche : Virtual Humans and Social Robots, MIRAlab
  • Maitre Nicolas Capt, Membre du barreau, spĂ©cialiste du droit des nouvelles technologies
  • Dr. Daniela Cerqui, anthropologue, UniversitĂ© de Lausanne
  • Dr. Wafa Johal, Computer-Human Interaction in Learning and Instruction, EPFL
  • Prof. Dr. Pierre Dillenbourg, Computer-Human Interaction in Learning and Instruction, EPFL
  • Lisa Schurrer, Member of Robotics and Philosophy project, ETHZ
  • Dr. Patricia Jungo, Coordinatrice des coopĂ©rations de recherche, Curaviva
  • PD Dr. Rouven Porz, Privat Dozent in Klinische Ethik, Inselspital Bern
  • Catherine Lennman, DĂ©putĂ©e aux affaires internationales, PFPDT
  • Marc Atallah, Directeur de la Maison d’ailleurs, Maitre d’enseignement philosophie de la technique
  • Prof. Dr. Marcel Weber, Professeur Philosophie des sciences, UniversitĂ© de GenĂšve
  • Johannes StĂ€hli, CEO raumCode GmbH
  • Dr. Jasmine Truong, PostDoc Sozial- und Kulturgeographie, Uni Bern
  • Vanessa Rampton, Ă©thique de la robotique, ETH historian of idea, ETHZ

Contact

Eliane Gonçalves, TA-SWISS
eliane.goncalves@taswiss.dev.wly.ch