Social robots are becoming increasingly advanced, making their way into healthcare, education, and even personal relationships. But what does this mean for us as humans? And with the rise of AI, another question emerges: how far are we willing to go in assigning social roles to machines? Professor of media psychology Elly Konijn has been researching human-robot interaction for years and recently received a major European grant for her work.

Konijn originally started at drama school, then studied psychology, and eventually earned a doctorate in artificial intelligence (AI). Her research focuses on emotions, media, and social robots. „Everything I have done now comes together in my work.”

How human can robots actually become?

„Social robots go beyond functional machines. They can communicate, recognise facial expressions, and even mimic emotions. People respond to them, sometimes in ways they do not expect themselves. We form bonds with technology, even though we rationally know it is not a real person. That fascinates me immensely."

Why do people form emotional bonds with robots or even marry them, despite knowing they are machines?

„We call this emotion-driven realism. Emotions shape our perception of authenticity. Rationally, you know a robot is not a real person, but if it shows emotions and responds to you, it feels real - just like interactions with real people. The same happens with film characters or game avatars: we develop emotional connections, even though we know they are fictional. Social robots tap into this same principle."

„When someone actually marries a robot or a fictional character, I do wonder: what issues is this person facing? Are they extremely lonely, or are they perhaps working a hundred-hour week?"

Will robots ever be able to match human interaction?

„No. Technology is developing rapidly, but human communication is extremely complex. Having real conversations, like between friends who understand each other with just a few words - that is something a robot cannot do. To achieve that, you would need to build a fully personalised robot for every individual, one that is also sensitive to subtle signals. That is practically impossible."

What is your view on the use of robots in healthcare? Can robots really reduce loneliness, as suggested in the documentary Ik ben Alice?

„That depends. A robot can never replace a human, but it can provide support. In a healthcare setting, a robot can activate someone—reminding them of activities, making conversation, or encouraging them to do something. But it remains essential that these people also receive real human visits."

„In mental healthcare, I can certainly see robots providing low-threshold support."

„In mental healthcare, I can certainly see robots providing low-threshold support, such as coaching or monitoring - within the safety of a professional setting, like a mental health institution. But for complex psychological problems, human therapy remains indispensable. The challenge is to integrate technology smartly without creating dependency or losing the human element."

I understand that’s your intention, but in practice, as soon as something can be done more cheaply, that’s often the route taken.

„We do indeed need to be cautious that technology is not used by health insurers as a cost-cutting measure for structural problems. People need human contact. Robots cannot replace that. However, they can provide support - for example, health insurers are already offering chatbots as mental health coaches."

What about robots in education?

„There is great potential in that area. We know that one-on-one learning is the most effective, but teachers often do not have the time for it. A robot can fill that gap and assist a child with language development or maths, for example. We see that children are more inclined to do their best when a robot looks at them or gives feedback. They say to us: 'Yes, but the robot is looking at me, so I have to pay attention.' Whereas a tablet does not create that social pressure."

„Human subtlety remains a challenge. And thankfully so."

Has your research changed the way you view human emotions?

„Absolutely. Emotions are not just something you feel; they are also tools used in interactions. Actors do this consciously on stage, police officers in conflict situations, and lecturers like myself in the classroom. We regulate emotions to convey messages effectively - by either reducing or transforming them into a different emotion. This is also what we attempt to replicate in robots. But human subtlety remains a challenge. And thankfully so."

Speaking of actors… your career started at drama school. How did you end up in media psychology and social robots?

„As a young woman, I desperately wanted to become an actress. At eighteen, I enrolled in drama school. Sometimes I performed well, and other times I did not; but when I asked why, teachers would say, “You feel it when it’s real. Now it felt real.” I didn’t just want to know when something felt real on stage—I wanted to understand why emotions work in interactions between people. That question led me to psychology, combined with theatre, film, and television studies, and later to the then-emerging field of AI."

„My dream of becoming an actress faded quickly when my passion for research was ignited. Everything I have learned now comes together in my current work—how emotions are conveyed, how people respond to actors, and now, how they respond to robots."