Uncertain performance and the perception of robots by humans: a dialogue between anthropology and neuroscience

7th May 2026

Only webconference
open to anyone, without resgistration

1pm – 2pm
Lionel Obadia (University of Lyon 2) and Ganesh Gowrishankar (CNRS / LIRMM) from structuring research action AS3 will present a webinar about anxiety and untrust by humans towards robots from an anthropologist and neuroscience point of view.
“Failures” and in general errors by robots are most of the times considered as a source of anxiety / fear and other negative emotions and leading to a rupture trust. Humans in their own behaviors are varied, prone to errors and not always successful in tasks. So are we too harsh with robots? Can the failures in fact be used for a better perception, and consequently acceptance of robots and AI?
The two speakers will discuss these issues from the lens of sociology, neuroscience and psychology to argue that cognitive and emotional discontinuities / ruptures can be a vital aspect of human-robots interaction.
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