“Superhuman” Robots in Teams: The Effect of Augmented Cognitive Capabilities on Human-Robot Communication

Abstract

Abstract As social robots become increasingly advanced, the rules of human-robot interaction (HRI) may diverge from those of interpersonal communication. In this light, scholars have proposed that the Computers-Are-Social-Actors (CASA) paradigm, which proposes that we respond to machines as we do with humans, may need to be revised. The aim of this study was to investigate whether original CASA findings on interdependence in human-computer interaction hold in interactions with an advanced (i.e., augmented) social robot. To this end, we conducted a 2 (display of augmented cognitive capabilities: control vs. augmented) x 2 (interdependency: interdependent vs. non-interdependent) between-subjects experiment with 260 participants. We measured behavioral conformity, entitativity, and interactivity as outcomes. Interdependency did not have any effect on any of the variables. However, augmentation increased behavioral conformity. These results present tentative evidence that further research on CASA is warranted and suggest the need for a comprehensive theoretical framework to account for technological advancements and explain interactions with advanced media agents.