Being in a Crowd Shifts People’s Attitudes Toward Humanoids

What is it about?

Humans tend to be more aware of risks than of potential benefits, so the negative aspects of innovation often seem more significant than the positive ones. This holds true for humanoid robots as well. People are generally more concerned about the downsides, like job competition, rather than the advantages. Meanwhile, there are ways to reduce people's tendency to avoid risk, making them more receptive to new ideas. One approach is to place individuals within a group. People often become less risk-averse or even more inclined to take risks when they are in the company of others. An evolutionary perspective suggests that our ancestors needed to be bold and take risks while hunting in groups or defending their tribes, as these situations were not suited to avoiding risk entirely. Interestingly, people's perceptions of new things can change significantly in a crowded setting. In such an environment, they are less likely to find humanoids unsettling compared to when they are in a less crowded space. Additionally, humanoids are seen as less of a job threat in crowded environments than in more sparsely populated ones. Essentially, people tend to fear humanoids less when surrounded by others than when they are alone or in a less crowded setting.

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Photo by Nicholas Green on Unsplash

Photo by Nicholas Green on Unsplash

Why is it important?

These findings are not limited to human-robot interactions but extend to how people assess new innovations overall. To increase acceptance of a new technology, it's more effective to introduce it in a crowded environment, as this setting makes people feel more open and comfortable with trying something new.

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