Kathryn Francis
University of Reading, Keele University, University of Helsinki
Papers
5
Total Citations
104
H-Index
3
About
Kathryn Francis is a leading researcher at the intersection of moral psychology, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. Her work fundamentally explores how humans make moral judgments and take moral actions, particularly when interacting with AI and robotic agents. Francis pioneered the use of immersive virtual environments to bridge the gap between abstract moral reasoning and real-world behavior, most notably in her highly cited 2017 study (62 citations) that simulated moral actions with realistic haptic feedback. Her groundbreaking research on the "moral psychology of nursing robots" (32 citations) reveals a critical asymmetry: while humans dislike robots violating patient autonomy, they paradoxically prefer robots that disobey unethical orders. This work, spanning field studies and experiments with over 2,000 participants, has profound implications for healthcare AI design. Francis has also explored AI-assisted euthanasia decisions, uncovering persistent human-robot judgment asymmetries. Her interdisciplinary approach—combining philosophy, cognitive science, and cutting-edge technology—has established her as a vital voice in understanding how humanity will navigate an increasingly automated moral landscape.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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