Robots That Look Human Make People Uneasy
An increasing number of robots are being created to work side by side with humans as carers, personal assistants, and in a range of other jobs. Some are even being designed to look human.
But seeing androids – robots that look human – can make some people uneasy. That feeling is called the "uncanny valley." Even researchers who work on robots experience it.
“I know how they work. I know they’re just machines, but something about [a robot] that looks like a person but doesn’t quite move like a person is disturbing,” said Jonathan Gratch, director for virtual human research at the University of Southern California.
He said there are many theories behind why the uncanny valley exists. One explanation is that it’s biological. People are hardwired to recognize when something seems wrong.
Scientists say that when people see a humanoid robot, they expect to see certain behaviors typical of humans. When their expectations are not met, the brain sends the signal that something is wrong, which makes people feel uneasy.
Another theory is that a robot that looks or acts too human threatens what it means to be human.
“Initially, humans were seen as the only intelligent [beings]. And now ... machines are starting to become intelligent. We hold on to the fact that we’re emotional, but now these machines are starting to be emotional as well, which is perhaps [seen as] a threat," Gratch explained.
People who design robots keep the uncanny valley in mind as they think about the look of a robot, and how widely it will be accepted by humans.
However, android science continues to develop rapidly, and robots are becoming more and more realistic. But one theory, called the "uncanny wall," suggests that humans will always be able to tell the difference between a robot and a real person. The theory suggests that, as robots become more realistic, people will become more sensitive and will always be able to tell that something is different.
