People are more comfortable interacting with a robot if it appears female

Companies looking to replace human staff with robots at hotels, restaurants and other service industries, should consider giving them a female face, study finds. For the study, 170 volunteers were asked by experts from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, for their thoughts on a scenario involving a hypothetical robot working in a service job - such as as a hotel greeter. The team discovered that people are more comfortable talking to a female presenting robot, especially if it has human-like features. The researchers said that in future, as well as a female face, it could be important for robots to have some degree of personality, especially if working in service jobs. Companies looking to replace human staff with robots at hotels, restaurants and other service industries, should consider giving them a female face, study finds.