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About

Adi Manor is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, focusing on how non-humanoid robotic objects can fulfill deep emotional and social needs. Their work challenges the assumption that robots must be human-like to be effective, instead demonstrating that simple, non-anthropomorphic designs can profoundly enhance human well-being and interpersonal dynamics. Manor’s most influential study, “Enhancing Emotional Support” (2021, 56 citations), showed that a robotic object can significantly improve the quality of emotional support exchanged between humans, a breakthrough that redefines robots as catalysts for human connection rather than replacements. Their subsequent research on providing a sense of security (2022, 23 citations) and fostering both affective and cognitive trust (2024, 9 citations) further establishes the psychological mechanisms by which these devices build reliable, comforting relationships. Manor has also explored companionship for older adults as a secondary function, addressing resistance to “artificial friends,” and investigated how robotic peers can influence emergent leadership in teams (2025). By centering emotional needs like security, attentiveness, and trust, Adi Manor is shaping a future where technology’s highest purpose is to strengthen the human experience.