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The robot, a three-dimensional bust with a projection of a
human-like face, aims to build on our new-found ease talking to
voice assistants like Siri and Alexa, by persuading us to
interact with it as if it were a person, picking up on our cues
to strike up a rapport.
Yet precisely because it isn't human, and is therefore free from
bias, the robot can spur people to engage more honestly, its
creator says, making it useful in situations such as screening
for health risks where people often lie.
"We've seen research that shows that in certain situations
people are more comfortable opening up and talking about
difficult issues with a robot than with a human," said Samer Al
Moubayed, chief executive of Furhat Robotics.
That's because a robot's personality can mirror the personality
of the person interacting with it and because people don't feel
judged, he added.
The robot has been used in Frankfurt airport as a multi-lingual
concierge, helping travelers find their way, but also for
customer services training - simulating irate shoppers for
example.
Science and technology firm Merck and Furhat Robotics on
Wednesday unveiled a robot in Stockholm which will ask people
about their health and lifestyle and screen them for risk of
diabetes, alcoholism and hypothyroidism. If necessary, the robot
will advise them to go for a blood test or to a doctor.
"Every robot needs a different personality depending on the job
it's going to do," said Moubayed.
Furhat can be male or female, old or young, wisecracking or
serious.
"One of the barriers that robots have had ... is the issue with
expressivity - being able to move like us, (with) very smooth,
very expressive facial movements, eye movements, head
movements," said Moubayed.
(Reporting by Stuart McDill; Writing by Alexandra Hudson;
Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
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