Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Jihyun Kim is a leading scholar at the intersection of human-machine communication, artificial intelligence, and social robotics, with a focus on how these technologies reshape human relationships and well-being. Her research primarily explores the social and relational dynamics of AI companions, examining how factors like social presence and communication style influence user acceptance and emotional connection. Kim’s most cited work, “AI companions for lonely individuals and the role of social presence” (2022, 109 citations), has been pivotal in understanding how AI can mitigate loneliness, establishing her as a key voice in this emerging field. She has further extended these insights into education with her study on AI instructors’ communication styles in online learning (2021, 51 citations), and into healthcare, investigating trust and adoption intentions for robotic health advisors (2023, 13 and 4 citations). Her work consistently demonstrates that the perceived humanness and relational capabilities of machines are critical to their successful integration into sensitive domains like health and education. Through her rigorous empirical studies, Kim is shaping how we design and deploy AI to foster meaningful, supportive interactions.