Emotional bonds with robots emerge from patterned interaction, not delusion.

Overview

This talk examined why people report meaningful emotional connections with social robots and AI companions. Rather than dismissing these bonds as irrational, the presentation explored how repetition, responsiveness, and memory cues generate experiences of being known. The argument positioned emotional engagement as a structured outcome of interaction design rather than evidence of technological confusion. By taking these relationships seriously, the talk invited audiences to reconsider how emotional experience functions within human–machine systems.

Ideal Audience

Interdisciplinary scholars, AI researchers, and audiences curious about emotional attachment to machines.

Event

Three Minute Thesis Competition
February 20, 2025
Bowling Green, Ohio

Media

Tags

Relational AI, Social Robotics, Human-Robot Interaction, Affective Interaction, Presentation