Ask people if they want to be cared for by a robot, and most say no': People are warming up to robots at work - but they don't want them in hospitals or schools

Date:
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:05:00 +0000

Description:
Public support for workplace robots is growing, but confidence and trust remain low for roles requiring empathy and human caregiving.

FULL STORY
Technological capabilities may no longer been the limiting factor when it comes to how and where robots can be deployed, with new Hexagon research revealing public support isnt always there.

The company found much of the public is becoming more accepting of robots in the workplace, but only where theyre used for practical, physical or
dangerous jobs. However roles which require empathy, judgement or human interaction are still where support remains low.

Robots are most accepted in practical labor use cases -- For
example, more than half (56%) of the 1,000+ UK adults surveyed said theyd accept robots in lifting and transporting heavy items. Carrying and
delivering any items (38%) and monitoring hazards and dangerous environments (34%) also received reasonable support.

With airports, some supermarkets and other public places now employing
robots, 31% would even support their use in cleaning shared spaces.

Though the research fails to detail perception by age bracket, the company surveyed an equal number of UK children to reveal that heavy lifting,
carrying and delivering is even more accepted among under 18s.

However, while repetitive physical work is generally well-accepted, 82% of UK adults want humans to care for sick, elderly and young people.

Only 5% say theyd choose a robot caregiver, making this the lowest support
for any of the tasks included in the report. Even children seem reluctant to have non-human personal interactions, with 79% preferring human caregivers
and 8% willing to choose a robot instead.

But Hexagon Technology Ethicist Dr Blay Whitby argues a simple reframing
could skew these figures: Ask people if they want to be cared for by a robot, and most say no Ask if technology should help them remain independent in
their own home for longer, and most say yes.

Associate Professor in Moral Psychology Dr Jim Everett sees robots more as assistive devices in care homes and classrooms, rather than human replacements. For now, the public still sees robots as
industrial automation roles. More than half agree their natural homes are factories (53%) and warehouses (53%) fewer consider them at home in
hospitals and clinics (34%) or classrooms (30%).

Fear of the unknown could be another blocker, with only 28% of UK adults believing that having a robot colleague would be exciting nearly half (46%) say it would be frightening. Humanoid forms are clearly unsettling, with
twice as many preferring machine-like robots (27%) compared with human-like robots (14%).

Sci-fi fears about robots taking over could also be influencing public perception. Nearly all UK adults (88%) want clear rules governing what robots can do.

Industrial environments are where the tasks for robots are the most defined, the safety cases are mature, and governance is in public view, Hexagon CTO Burkhard Boeckem concluded.

Global comparisons back the fear of the unknown theory while 30% of UK
adults have encountered robots in real life, 75% have in China. A country thats nearly twice as likely (63%) to accept robots into the home compared with the UK (32%).

Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/ask-people-if-they-want-to-be-cared-for-by-a-rob ot-and-most-say-no-people-are-warming-up-to-robots-at-work-but-they-dont-want- them-in-hospitals-or-schools

$$

SEEN-BY: 1/108 17/1