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About

Gopikrishna Deshpande is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-animal and human-robot interactions, with a focus on social bonding, attachment theory, and mental health interventions. His work critically examines how relationships with animals and robots can serve as frameworks for understanding human social needs, particularly in the context of loneliness and therapy. Deshpande’s most cited paper, “Human–dog relationships as a working framework for exploring human–robot attachment” (2021, 49 citations), establishes a foundational model for studying attachment in human-robot interaction (HRI) by drawing parallels with well-documented human-dog bonds. His subsequent research, including “Social bonding between humans, animals, and robots: Dogs outperform AIBOs, their robotic replicas, as social companions” (2025, 8 citations), demonstrates that living animals elicit stronger social bonding than their robotic counterparts, challenging assumptions in ethorobotics. Additionally, his critical review “Beyond the human touch” (2025, 7 citations) evaluates the promise and limitations of animal- and robot-assisted therapy for mental healthcare. Deshpande’s contributions are shaping the ethical and practical design of social robots, with implications for aging populations, mental health support, and our understanding of what makes a companion truly social.