About this Research Topic
In recent years, much attention has been paid to artificial intelligence (AI), such as the neurophysiological reactions to AI; the potential of AI in neuro and motor rehabilitation, the ability, provided by AI, to simulate human behavior; or the possibility to integrate emotions into AI. Due to the great development, success and diffusion of AI, as for instance Chat-GPT, the mainstream of research work is mainly dedicated to the improvement of the “power” of this technology to perform in a more efficient way, especially in terms of interactions with humans aimed at providing real or practical or true “answers” from AI. However, little is known about the effects such developing technologies on its users and their relationship with AI.
Is the factor of anthropomorphism changing the perception and interaction of humans with AI? Moreover, do these features serve as key elements to empower AI and enable a wider acceptance of this technology? Finally, do anthropomorphic features enhance the perception of AI as a more “sentient entity”, in comparison to the AI without these features? Is the possibility to interact with an embodied AI by means of voice interactions representing a revolution leading to the possibility to create machines without a traditional interface? All these questions may represent research topics that can be explored by innovative research works aimed at participating to this call, where different disciplines, from Cognitive Sciences to Ergonomics, from Psychology to Neuroscience, from Robotics to Machine-learning can explore, from different perspectives, the innovative horizon of human-machine interactions.
This Research Topic wants to investigate the interactions between humans and artificial intelligence characterized by the element of anthropomorphism, being represented by symbolic elements (names, virtual avatar), cognitive or affective (reference to a sense of self, displays of intentionality or emotions), or elements of embodiment. The latter can be seen as a mid-level (a robotic arm or prosthesis or any other physical entity enabling to represent the AI in the physical world) or a high level of embodiment (an anthropomorphic embodiment of AI, by means of an anthropomorphic robot/machine, enabling to interact with humans by means of voice interactions or any other innovative ways, with or without an interface).
Is the factor of anthropomorphism changing the perception and interaction of humans with AI? Moreover, do these features serve as key elements to empower AI and enable a wider acceptance of this technology? Finally, do anthropomorphic features enhance the perception of AI as a more “sentient entity”, in comparison to the AI without these features? Is the possibility to interact with an embodied AI by means of voice interactions representing a revolution leading to the possibility to create machines without a traditional interface? All these questions may represent research topics that can be explored by innovative research works aimed at participating to this call, where different disciplines, from Cognitive Sciences to Ergonomics, from Psychology to Neuroscience, from Robotics to Machine-learning can explore, from different perspectives, the innovative horizon of human-machine interactions.
This Research Topic wants to investigate the interactions between humans and artificial intelligence characterized by the element of anthropomorphism, being represented by symbolic elements (names, virtual avatar), cognitive or affective (reference to a sense of self, displays of intentionality or emotions), or elements of embodiment. The latter can be seen as a mid-level (a robotic arm or prosthesis or any other physical entity enabling to represent the AI in the physical world) or a high level of embodiment (an anthropomorphic embodiment of AI, by means of an anthropomorphic robot/machine, enabling to interact with humans by means of voice interactions or any other innovative ways, with or without an interface).
Keywords: Artificial intelligence, anthropomorphism, human machine interaction, embodiment, rehabilitation
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