Researchers at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences want to know how technology can contribute to a more inclusive society. Understanding different points of view is essential for social cohesion and progress. Robots can play an important role in discussing difficult topics such as ethnicity and gender. But just as with humans, a robot’s appearance can evoke prejudice.

At the Liberation Festival in Utrecht, researchers used the Furhat robot to facilitate conversations about moral and ethical dilemmas. This robot can change its appearance, which helps investigate whether this increases participants’ empathy. The goal is to humanize the robot to deepen the emotional connection and increase awareness of the impact of human decisions.

35 people participated in the test. The robot presented them with ethical dilemmas from both first-person and third-person perspectives. The results were telling. Participants felt more engaged and supported the robot more when it spoke from the first person perspective. With a third-person perspective, emotional involvement was significantly lower.

This test is part of a larger study. The next phase will take place at the Science Café at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, where more data will be collected. The insights from these tests will help further develop the WOKEbot and improve its ability to elicit empathy and deepen moral discussions.