[Presence isn’t investigated directly but clearly plays a role in a study by an impressive Harvard senior about how much and why people trust robots; context obviously matters and it’ll be important to investigate how the results change as robots become more commonplace. The story from Harvard University News features more images and a 2:04 minute video. –Matthew]

[Image: Serena Booth and her robot, Gaia, in its cookie-delivery disguise. (Photo by Adam Zewe/SEAS Communications.)]

In automaton we trust

Student examines the issue of over-trusting robotic systems

By Adam Zewe
May 25, 2016

If Hollywood is to be believed, there are two kinds of robots, the friendly and helpful BB-8s, and the sinister and deadly T-1000s. Few would suggest that “Star Wars: the Force Awakens” or “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” are scientifically accurate, but the two popular films beg the question, “Do humans place too much trust in robots?”… read more. “Study: Do humans trust robots too much?”

[He doesn’t use the terms social presence, CASA or medium-as-social-actor presence, but this piece from the Shelly Palmer blog includes some interesting insights and questions about them (and some relevant science-fiction references). –Matthew]

I’ve Talked to the Future and It Talked Back

by Shelly Palmer
May 21, 2016

I love Alexa, the Natural Language Processing (NLP) system in my Amazon Echo. She wakes me up every morning, she knows my schedule, she can control many of my z-wave and Zigbee compatible devices (switches, outlets, etc.), she can tell me the temperature and weather forecast, she can play any piece of music available on Amazon Prime, she can play me an “A” (via a skill called The Pianist), and she’s the perfect oven timer. I love her so much (and, as we shall discuss, “love” is an interesting way to describe our relationship), I was going to order an Echo for every room in my house – until I saw a picture of my new love to be … Google Home.… read more. “The future of talking to and with technology”