Sander Burger
Papers
1
Total Citations
17
H-Index
1
About
Sander Burger is a provocative voice in human-robot interaction, best known for challenging the field’s core assumptions about social robotics. His most cited work, “The In-between Machine” (2015, 17 citations), argues that AI researchers have successfully modeled psychological theories but fundamentally missed the mark in addressing elderly loneliness. Drawing from a documentary about his team’s flagship robot, Han, Burger contends that robots should not mimic humans but instead occupy a unique “in-between” space—neither fully machine nor fully person. This critical perspective reframes the value proposition of social robots, urging designers to embrace their distinct ontological status rather than striving for flawed human-likeness. Though his citation count is modest, Burger’s influence lies in his disruptive, philosophical approach: he forces the community to question whether we are “modelling the wrong things” entirely. His work resonates deeply with researchers grappling with the ethical and practical failures of companion robots, making him a must-read for anyone interested in the soul of human-robot relations.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1