Study finds that humans feel empathy for robots | CTV News

by Hallie Siegel

24 April 2013

share this:

Scientists at the University of Duisburg Essen say participants in two studies registered similar emotional reactions when they witnessed humans and robots being treated poorly. When asked how they felt after watching the videos, the participants said they had more negative feelings after watching the video of the robot being abused. The researchers will present their findings at the annual International Communication Association conference in London in June.

Hallie Siegel’s insight: If you’re interested in this topic, make sure to check out the recent Robot Podcast interview Giving rights to robots with Kate Darling.

A ‘5-in-1’ seed-sized surgical robot

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 10 Aug 2026

Mini robot can move, cut tissue, release drugs, grip and store samples, and generate heat wirelessly

AI agents create virtual playgrounds to help robots get crucial training data

MIT News 07 Aug 2026

“SceneSmith” system uses collaborative AI agents to create realistic 3D environments of places like kitchens, hotels, and living rooms, where robots can simulate everyday chores.

Robots in society, business and culture: July 2026

IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) 06 Aug 2026

A round up of robotics stories in a new monthly series from IEEE RAS.

Simulated zebrafish and a vision-equipped robotic fish reveal how the body shapes brain circuits

Xiangxiao Liu, Eva Aimable Naumann and Auke Ijspeert 03 Aug 2026

Researchers look to the fish brain to create a robotic zebrafish that can autonomously swim upstream.

Researchers develop modular nanorobot

University of Basel 31 Jul 2026

A team at the University of Basel has developed a versatile nanorobot with propulsion and payload modules.

Surviving the paper deluge: a one-year study in learning from demonstration

IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) 29 Jul 2026

With the explosion of robotics research, staying current in fields like Learning from Demonstration is a monumental challenge.

Soft robotic heart offers new way to study disease and test life-saving devices

University of New South Wales 28 Jul 2026

Researchers have developed a soft robotic model of the human heart that can mimic disease and provide a realistic environment for testing the next generation of cardiac devices.