Abstract
Attitudes towards robots are not always unequivocally positive or negative: when attitudes encompass both strong positive and strong negative evaluations about an attitude object, people experience an unpleasant state of evaluative conflict, called ambivalence. To shed light on ambivalence towards robots, we conducted a mixed-methods experiment with N = 163 German university students that investigated the influence of robot autonomy on robot-related attitudes. With technological progress, robots become increasingly autonomous. We hypothesized that high levels of robot autonomy would increase both positive and negative robot-related evaluations, resulting in more attitudinal ambivalence. We experimentally manipulated robot autonomy through text vignettes and assessed objective ambivalence (i.e., the amount of reported conflicting thoughts and feelings) and subjective ambivalence (i.e., self-reported experienced conflict) towards the robot ‘VIVA’ using qualitative and quantitative measures. Autonomy did not impact objective ambivalence. However, subjective ambivalence was higher towards the robot high versus low in autonomy. Interestingly, this effect turned non-significant when controlling for individual differences in technology commitment. Qualitative results were categorized by two independent raters into assets (e.g., assistance, companionship) and risks (e.g., privacy/data security, social isolation). Taken together, the present research demonstrated that attitudes towards robots are indeed ambivalent and that this ambivalence might influence behavioral intentions towards robots. Moreover, the findings highlight the important role of technology commitment. Finally, qualitative results shed light on potential users’ concerns and aspirations. This way, these data provide useful insights into factors that facilitate human–robot research.
Highlights
Are you afraid that your robotic companion will one day strive for world domination? Science fiction media have often portrayed a so-called ‘robot apocalypse’ e.g., in the ‘I, robot’ (2004), ‘Terminator’ (1984, latest sequel: 2019), or ‘Matrix’ (1999, sequel: 2022) movies
The goals of the current research were threefold: First, we explored the experience of ambivalence in attitudes toward autonomous robots; second, we investigated the role of robot autonomy in the formation of attitudes towards robots; and third, we identified the specific positive and negative evaluations associated with autonomous robots
We identified a possible mechanism for the influence of technology commitment on attitudes towards robots, namely a role in the emergence and resolution of attitudinal conflict towards robots: Correlational analyses indicated that users high in technology commitment experience less ambivalence towards robots overall
Summary
Science fiction media have often portrayed a so-called ‘robot apocalypse’ e.g., in the ‘I, robot’ (2004), ‘Terminator’ (1984, latest sequel: 2019), or ‘Matrix’ (1999, sequel: 2022) movies. Such movies reflect the high hopes and great dangers associated with modern robotic systems. Thereby, cinematic depictions of robots contribute to ambivalent attitudes towards robots, towards autonomous robots. Autonomous robots are associated with bringing relief by supporting users with chores and other undesirable everyday tasks [29], while at the same time threatening people’s feelings of safety and human uniqueness
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