New research has shown that robots can encourage people to take more risks in a simulated gaming scenario than they would if there was nothing to influence their behavior. This study explored our understanding of whether robots, which can influence risk taking, could have ethical, practical and political implications.
Robotic peer pressure?
Dr Yaniv Hanoch, associate professor of risk management at the University of Southampton, who led the study, explained: “We know that peer pressure can lead to higher risk behavior and it is crucial that we knew better if machines can have a similar impact.”
This new research,
publishedin the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, involved 180 undergraduates participating in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), a computer-based assessment that asks participants to press the space bar. a keyboard to inflate a balloon displayed on the screen. Each time you press the space bar, the ball inflates slightly and 1 cent is added to the player’s “temporary bank”.