Communicative Development and Diffusion of Humanoid AI Robots for the Post-Pandemic Health Care System

• Main Authors: Do Kyun David Kim, Gary L. Kreps, Rukhsana Ahmed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Communication and Social Robotics Labs 2021-09-01
• Series: Human-Machine Communication Journal
• Subjects: humanoid ai robots; machine-learning; new normal in health care; post pandemic world; human-machine communicaiton
• Online Access: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hmc/vol3/iss1/5/

As humanoid robot technology, anthropomorphized by artificial intelligence (AI), has rapidly advanced to introduce more human-resembling automated robots that can communicate, interact, and work like humans, we have begun to expect active interactions with Humanoid AI Robots (HAIRs) in the near future. Coupled with the HAIR technology development, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered our interest in using health care robots with many substantial advantages that overcome critical human vulnerabilities against the strong infectious COVID-19 virus. Recognizing the tremendous potential for the active application of HAIRs, this article explores feasible ways to implement HAIRs in health care and patient services and suggests recommendations for strategically developing and diffusing autonomous HAIRs in health care facilities. While discussing the integration of HAIRs into health care, this article points out some important ethical concerns that should be addressed for implementing HAIRs for health care services.