Category: Social Robotics

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Oliver Bendel Joins the University of Potsdam as Visiting Scholar

Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel of the FHNW School of Business will be a visiting scholar at the University of Potsdam from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2027. He considers himself a philosopher of technology, focusing on technology ethics and emerging fields of applied ethics, particularly information ethics, robot ethics, and machine ethics. In information ethics and robot ethics, he takes an empirically informed or empirically grounded approach that remains close to the subject matter. Ethical judgments are preceded by as precise an empirical and technical analysis as possible: The first step is to determine the specific characteristics of a given system, the functions it provides, the data it processes, and the effects it produces. Only on this basis are normative questions concerning issues such as informational autonomy, privacy, responsibility, or well-being examined. Normative claims are not derived from description alone, and empirical findings and normative premises remain clearly distinguishable. In machine ethics, Bendel complements this approach with a constructive-experimental methodology. He develops and tests prototypes himself, including specialized chatbots, voice assistants, and household robots in which moral rules are implemented. Here, construction serves as a method of inquiry: Its initial purpose is to demonstrate whether and how particular moral rules can be operationalized and implemented technically. The resulting artifacts are then systematically examined to reveal the possibilities, limitations, contradictions, and unexpected consequences of their implementation. This creates a feedback loop involving ethical conceptualization, technical construction, empirical testing, and ethical reflection. Overall, this methodology can therefore be characterized as an empirically grounded and constructive-experimental approach to technology ethics and related fields of research. Since 2022, Oliver Bendel has also been an associated researcher with the Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group (PECoG) at the University of Potsdam.

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The Red Attraction Effect

The Robophilosophy 2026 conference took place from August 11–14, 2026, at University College Dublin (UCD) in Dublin, Ireland. Held under the theme “Connected Futures – Nature, Robots, and Society”, the seventh installment of the international conference series brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to explore how robotics and artificial intelligence are transforming human societies and the natural world. On the first day of the conference, Katharina Kühne presented the paper “No Red Romance for Robots? Investigating the Red Attraction Effect in Humanlike Robots”, authored by Emma Luisa M. Waller, Diana P. Ebenburger, Oliver Bendel, Martin Fischer, and herself. The study investigates whether the red-attraction effect known from research on human perception also occurs when people evaluate humanlike robots. From the abstract: “The color red has been shown to positively influence ratings of attractiveness and willingness to spend money (e.g., on a date), while having no effect on other perceptions, such as likeability. In an online study, we aimed to conceptually replicate the red-attraction effect using humanoid robots as stimuli. Forty-four heterosexual female participants evaluated 16 images of medium and highly humanlike robots on attractiveness, likeability, trustworthiness, and willingness to spend money to rent the robot. We found no evidence of a red-attraction effect. Female-looking robots received higher ratings overall. These findings have implications for robot design and suggest that basic cues, such as color, may not operate in the same way for robots. Instead, humanoid robots may constitute a distinct category but still be perceived as social agents.” The proceedings, containing all conference papers, are expected to become available in late 2026.

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ICSR + Health 2027 at University of Potsdam

The 19th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Health 2027) will take place in July 2027 in Potsdam, Germany. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. Hosted by the University of Potsdam, ICSR + Health 2027 will provide an international platform for scientific exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation at the intersection of social robotics and health. The conference welcomes researchers, practitioners, industry partners, and students from around the world working in areas such as social robotics, embodied AI, human–robot interaction, cognitive science, healthcare, psychology, rehabilitation, design, ethics, and related disciplines. Participants will have opportunities to present their research, propose workshops or symposia, take part in the Grand Challenge, volunteer, or support the conference as sponsors. The General Chairs are Katharina Kühne of the University of Potsdam and the Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group (PECoG), Ilona Buchem of Berlin University of Applied Sciences (BHT), and Oliver Bendel of the FHNW School of Business (also associated researcher at the PECoG). The General Co-Chair is John-John Cabibihan of Qatar University. Further information, including calls for papers, workshops, the Grand Challenge, volunteering opportunities, sponsorship packages, registration details, and the exact conference dates, will be announced on the conference website: icsr2027.org.

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More Than Emotional Design

Most design is evaluated by how well it solves a problem. But some of the most memorable objects are not designed to maximize efficiency – they are designed to invite a relationship. Oliver Bendel believes this deserves its own name: Relational Object Design. Unlike Emotional Design, which focuses on how a product makes us feel, Relational Object Design focuses on the object itself as a potential relationship partner. Takashi Murakami’s Rumble-kun in a Jar is a beautiful example. The small axolotl-like creature sits quietly inside a transparent jar. It has no function, no movement, and no intelligence, yet it immediately feels alive. Its gentle expression and childlike proportions encourage us to care about it rather than simply look at it. The same philosophy can be found in the work of Yukai Engineering. Products such as Qoobo, Mirumi, and Nekojita FuFu are not primarily tools; they are companions with distinct personalities. Their value lies less in what they accomplish than in the emotional bond they encourage. This perspective also offers an interesting lens on social robotics. Robots such as AIBO, Eiliko, or Paro are often discussed in terms of artificial intelligence and social interaction, but perhaps the deeper question is simpler: what is the minimum amount of design required for a person to perceive an object as a companion? Murakami’s sculpture suggests that the answer may be surprisingly little. Sometimes a peaceful smile is enough.

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Little Blowing Bear

As Publicity Chair of ICSR + Art 2026, Oliver Bendel had the opportunity on the third evening to choose between two gifts, one larger and one smaller. Since he had traveled to London with only carry-on luggage, he opted for the smaller one. When he unpacked the cardboard box back home in Zurich, out popped a little bear. Pressing its stubby tail causes it to blow air through its mouth. In this way, it can cool down hot drinks and hot soups. The philosopher of technology tried it out on his terrace. The little bear blew what seemed like a hole right into his coffee. Its name is, by the way, Nekojita FuFu, and it is – like Qoobo and Mirumi – from Yukai Engineering.T he Berlin Bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin and has adorned the city’s coat of arms for centuries. Just outside Germany’s capital lies Potsdam. The city is best known for its magnificent palaces, beautiful gardens, and its important role in German and European history. It is home to the University of Potsdam as well as several renowned research institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. About 6 kilometers outhwest of Potsdam, in the village of Caputh (part of the municipality of Schwielowsee), stands the Einstein House. The famous physicist had this modest wooden house built in 1929 based on plans by the architect Konrad Wachsmann. Einstein and his family spent their summers there, and he worked there until the end of 1932. The University of Potsdam will host ICSR + Health 2027, where Dr. Katharina Kühne and the Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group (PECoG) will welcome the community with open arms. Incidentally, Potsdam’s coat of arms features a red eagle on a silver field (Photo: Yukai Engineering).

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Registration Opens for LSR 2026

Registration for the 11th International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots (LSR 2026) is now open. Building on a conference series that began in 2011 and has helped establish the academic study of human-robot intimacy as an interdisciplinary field, LSR 2026 will take place on August 21–22 at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), with sessions hosted in the Pavillon J.A. DeSève in Montreal’s Latin Quarter. The conference is organized by Dr. Simon Dubé (Kinsey Institute, Indiana University Bloomington), Dr. David Levy, founder of the conference series, and Bobbi Bidochka (imagine ideation). The keynote speakers are Ellen M. Kaufman (Kinsey Institute, Indiana University Bloomington), Charlotte Poitras (multidisciplinary artist), and Valerie A. Lapointe (Université du Québec à Montréal), whose work spans informatics, psychology, media, and emerging technologies related to intimacy and AI. Further information on registration, the program, submissions, travel, and accommodation is available on the official conference website: www.lovewithrobots.com.

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Playboy Interview on Chatbots, Love Dolls, and Sex Robots

At the end of July 2025, Playboy interviewed Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel about relationships with chatbots, love dolls, and sex robots. The Playboy Special Edition was published in conjunction with the exhibition SEX NOW, which ran from September 5, 2025, to May 3, 2026. Beginning on September 11, 2025, the German magazine was available at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf. It is visually stunning and delights readers with its playful and engaging language throughout. “Great Art in Playboy” presents “a small exhibition of significant visual artists and their works under the sign of the rabbit” (own translation). It features nude works ranging from Dalí to Warhol. “The Woman Without Taboos” is Beate Uhse, who, according to Playboy, “made the sexual revolution part of everyday life in Germany”. The magazine pays tribute to her with “an ode to an educator and businesswoman”. “Our Second-Best Friend” is the vibrator, whose cultural history is said to reveal “more about the relationship between the sexes than any sociology textbook”. A four-page feature includes a three-page interview with Oliver Bendel, a philosopher of technology based in Zurich. The interview was conducted by Christina Weiß. In the table of contents, it appears under the heading “Sex Devices”. The conversation explores sometimes exciting but always one-sided relationships with chatbots, love dolls, and sex robots. With the kind permission of Florian Boitin, Editor-in-Chief of Playboy Germany, the article has been available for download here since July 7, 2026.

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Goodbye, ICSR + Art 2026

The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) took place in London from July 1–4, bringing together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from around the world to explore the latest advances in social robotics. Hosted by Hooman Samani and Saina Akhond from the University of the Arts London, the conference welcomed around 350 participants who presented their latest research in the main track and special sessions while engaging in lively discussions with both humans and robots in the Debate Room. Teams also competed in the Grand Challenge, showcasing innovative concepts and working prototypes that demonstrated the future potential of social robotics. A series of inspiring keynote presentations explored emerging technologies as well as important methodological questions shaping the field, while robot performances and a memorable robot dance featuring Silke Grabinger added an artistic dimension to the event. Throughout the conference, attendees had the opportunity to meet an impressive range of social robots, including Furhat, Ameca, Euclid, Lovot, and Mirumi. Furhat and Ameca represented highly expressive humanoid platforms capable of remarkably lifelike interactions, while Euclid attracted particular attention as an open-source humanoid robot built for only a few hundred dollars, proving that affordable hardware can compete with well-known androids such as Sophia and Erika. In contrast, Lovot and Mirumi showcased the softer side of social robotics. Mirumi, a small furry wearable companion robot, charmed visitors with its ability to cling to the handle of a handbag using its tiny arms and is expected to appear soon in pop-up stores, particularly targeting girls and women. On the third evening, after a thought-provoking panel discussion and another series of robot performances, enthusiastic participants left the illuminated Senate House inspired by several days of groundbreaking research, creative collaboration, and a shared vision of how humans and robots will shape the future together. Further information is available at icsr2026.uk.

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Towards the KissMachine

The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) is currently taking place in London from July 1–4, bringing together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advances in social robotics. On the second day of the conference, researchers presented their latest work during the poster session, including Oliver Bendel’s paper “Kiss Me More: Artificial Lips for Intimate Encounters”. The title is a tribute to Doja Cat’s hit “Kiss Me More”, reflecting the paper’s focus on technology-mediated intimacy. The paper introduces the concept of the KissMachine, a next-generation telekissing device with artificial lips designed to enable more intimate remote interactions while addressing the technical, social, and ethical challenges of such technology. It also pays tribute to the Kissenger, invented by Hooman Samani in 2012, one of the pioneering telekissing systems that inspired subsequent research in this field. The exchange between Bendel and Samani highlighted both the evolution of telekissing technology over the past decade and the continuing interest in human-centered approaches to social robotics. Further information is available at icsr2026.uk.

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Can MLLMs Distinguish Human Laughter?

The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) is currently taking place in London from July 1–4, bringing together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from around the world to explore the latest developments in social robotics. The conference serves as an international platform for exchanging ideas on how intelligent systems can better understand, interact with, and support people in everyday life. On the second day of the conference, Sahan Hatemo, a student at the FHNW School of Computer Science, presented the paper “Reading Between the Laughs: A Human-Referenced Audio Evaluation of MLLMs for Social Robotics”, co-authored with Dr. Katharina Kühne (University of Potsdam) and Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW School of Business). The study investigates whether today’s leading multimodal large language models (MLLMs) can distinguish authentic from non-authentic laughter using audio signals alone. As laughter is an important social cue, the ability to recognize its authenticity could significantly improve how robots and AI systems communicate with people in social settings. The researchers found notable differences in how the evaluated AI models interpreted laughter. OpenAI models showed a clear tendency to classify most laughter as genuine, while Gemini models were generally more skeptical in their assessments. Despite these contrasting biases, several models performed significantly better than chance, with Gemini 2.5 Pro achieving the strongest overall performance. A closer analysis also revealed qualitative differences in the models’ decision-making. Less capable models appeared to rely on superficial acoustic features, such as pitch, and were more likely to classify higher-pitched laughter as less authentic. In contrast, the best-performing model seemed to focus on more sophisticated aspects of voice quality, indicating a deeper understanding of the characteristics that distinguish genuine from non-authentic laughter. The findings demonstrate the growing potential of multimodal AI for social robotics. As robots increasingly become part of everyday environments, the ability to accurately interpret subtle social signals such as laughter could play a crucial role in fostering trust, improving communication, and strengthening human-robot relationships. Further information is available at icsr2026.uk.