Whani Kim

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About

Whani Kim is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction, with a focus on trust repair and social robotics. Her most-cited work, “Sorry, it was my fault”: Repairing trust in human-robot interactions (2023, 49 citations), fundamentally advances our understanding of how robots can mend broken trust through verbal and behavioral apologies. Kim’s research uniquely bridges social psychology and robotics, demonstrating that robots can effectively use human-like repair strategies—such as acknowledging fault and offering explanations—to restore user confidence after errors. This work has profound implications for deploying robots in sensitive domains like healthcare, elder care, and collaborative manufacturing, where trust is paramount. Beyond this landmark paper, Kim has contributed to designing more empathetic and socially aware robotic systems, often incorporating insights from human communication and conflict resolution. Her findings have been featured in top-tier HRI conferences and journals, and she is recognized for her ability to translate complex social dynamics into actionable robot behaviors. With her innovative approach, Kim is shaping a future where robots are not just functional but also trusted partners in everyday life.