Our studies are designed with real-world application in mind, often developed in partnership with industry. We aim for research that informs policy, design, and organizational practice, not research that stays confined to academic journals.
Policy relevance
As governments and institutions grapple with how to regulate humanlike AI, our findings offer evidence-based guidance on where anthropomorphic design helps people and where it risks manipulation or harm.
Design implications
For the engineers and product teams building social robots and conversational AI, our research translates into practical guidance: which design choices build appropriate trust, and which create false expectations or unhealthy dependence.
- Organizational practice
Businesses adopting robots and AI agents in customer service, healthcare, and other frontline roles need to understand how these tools will be perceived and used. Our applied studies help organizations deploy humanlike technology responsibly and effectively.