Ask people if they want to be cared for by a robot, and most say no': People are warming up to robots at work - but they don't want them in hospitals or schools

Date:
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:05:00 +0000

Description:
Public support for workplace robots is growing, but confidence and trust remain low for roles requiring empathy and human caregiving.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Report finds public support for workplace robots is growing especially for physical or dangerous tasks Willingness to accept a robot inside the home grows with real-life exposure Familiarity and clear governance are essential to overcoming public fear Technological capabilities may no longer been the limiting factor when it comes to how and where robots can be deployed, with new Hexagon research revealing public support isnt always there.

The company found much of the public is becoming more accepting of robots in the workplace, but only where theyre used for practical, physical or
dangerous jobs. However roles which require empathy, judgement or human interaction are still where support remains low. Latest Videos From Watch
full video here: Robots are most accepted in practical labor use cases For example, more than half (56%) of the 1,000+ UK adults surveyed said theyd accept robots in lifting and transporting heavy items. Carrying and
delivering any items (38%) and monitoring hazards and dangerous environments (34%) also received reasonable support.

With airports, some supermarkets and other public places now employing
robots, 31% would even support their use in cleaning shared spaces. You may like What the UKs robot anxiety reveals about how automation will scale Humanoid robots wont be the future: purpose-built robots will 'Some of our employees fear job loss, and it turns them away from AI altogether': AI is helping boost productivity for some workers but others still say they're afraid to use it

Though the research fails to detail perception by age bracket, the company surveyed an equal number of UK children to reveal that heavy lifting,
carrying and delivering is even more accepted among under 18s.

However, while repetitive physical work is generally well-accepted, 82% of UK adults want humans to care for sick, elderly and young people. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get
all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Only 5% say theyd choose a robot caregiver, making this the lowest support
for any of the tasks included in the report. Even children seem reluctant to have non-human personal interactions, with 79% preferring human caregivers
and 8% willing to choose a robot instead.

But Hexagon Technology Ethicist Dr Blay Whitby argues a simple reframing
could skew these figures: Ask people if they want to be cared for by a robot, and most say no Ask if technology should help them remain independent in
their own home for longer, and most say yes.

Associate Professor in Moral Psychology Dr Jim Everett sees robots more as assistive devices in care homes and classrooms, rather than human replacements. What to read next New study finds people are becoming more accepting of AI - just about More and more workers say they'd be happy with
an AI boss but don't expect it to give them a raise any time soon Half of workers worry AI will still take their job, as agent usage rises Exposure can drastically shift public perception For now, the public still sees robots as industrial automation roles. More than half agree their natural homes are factories (53%) and warehouses (53%) fewer consider them at home in
hospitals and clinics (34%) or classrooms (30%).

Fear of the unknown could be another blocker, with only 28% of UK adults believing that having a robot colleague would be exciting nearly half (46%) say it would be frightening. Humanoid forms are clearly unsettling, with
twice as many preferring machine-like robots (27%) compared with human-like robots (14%).

Sci-fi fears about robots taking over could also be influencing public perception. Nearly all UK adults (88%) want clear rules governing what robots can do.

Industrial environments are where the tasks for robots are the most defined, the safety cases are mature, and governance is in public view, Hexagon CTO Burkhard Boeckem concluded.

Global comparisons back the fear of the unknown theory while 30% of UK
adults have encountered robots in real life, 75% have in China. A country thats nearly twice as likely (63%) to accept robots into the home compared with the UK (32%). Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/ask-people-if-they-want-to-be-cared-for-by-a-rob ot-and-most-say-no-people-are-warming-up-to-robots-at-work-but-they-dont-want- them-in-hospitals-or-schools


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