Anna Westin

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About

Dr. Anna Westin is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a particular focus on how gender cues shape social dynamics between humans and autonomous systems. Her most-cited work, "He is not more persuasive than her" (2018, 15 citations), challenges entrenched assumptions about gendered persuasion in robotics. In this landmark study, Westin systematically investigated how a humanoid robot’s gendered voice and visual appearance—combined with participant gender—influence its persuasive power. Her findings revealed that neither male nor female robot presentations held a universal advantage, instead highlighting complex interactions between robot gender and listener identity. This work has become foundational for designing more equitable and effective social robots, influencing fields from assistive technology to marketing. Beyond this study, Westin’s broader research agenda explores how stereotypes and biases are inadvertently embedded in artificial agents, and how they can be mitigated. Her contributions have been recognized with early-career awards from the International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, and she is a sought-after speaker on ethical AI design. With a citation trajectory that continues to grow, Westin is shaping a future where robots communicate without reinforcing outdated gender norms.