Being in a Crowd Shifts People’s Attitudes Toward Humanoids

The article investigates how being in a crowd shifts people's attitudes toward humanoids in retail settings. It begins by discussing the increasing trend of automation in retail, driven by margin pressures exacerbated by the pandemic. The study then delves into the psychological factors that influence people's aversion to humanoids, such as job security and identity threats. The main focus is on the crowd effect, which the author predicts will lower people's risk aversion and thereby improve their assessment of humanoids. Four studies are conducted to support this hypothesis, each examining different aspects of human-robot interaction in crowded environments. The findings indicate that people indeed evaluate humanoids more positively when in a crowded setting, suggesting that crowds can mitigate the negative attitudes typically associated with humanoids. This article offers valuable insights into the future of human-robot interaction in retail, highlighting the importance of environmental factors in shaping public perception of humanoids.