John Antanitis

Papers

Total Citations

234

H-Index

About

John Antanitis is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a focus on how social robots can influence human behavior and build meaningful relationships. His work centers on two key areas: personalization in HRI and the social impact of robot presence. In his highly cited 2012 paper, "Personalization in HRI" (159 citations), Antanitis demonstrated that robots can create and sustain rapport with people through personalized interactions, using a snack delivery robot to show how tailored social strategies improve user engagement and service success. This foundational work has shaped how robots are designed for long-term companionship and assistance. In his 2015 study, "Robot Presence and Human Honesty" (75 citations), he explored the novel question of whether robots can encourage ethical behavior, finding that a robot’s social presence significantly increased people’s honesty in experimental settings. This research has profound implications for deploying robots in schools, workplaces, and public institutions where integrity is critical. Antanitis’s contributions bridge technical design and social psychology, earning him recognition as a pioneer in creating robots that not only perform tasks but also positively shape human conduct.