Social robotics expert Naomi Fitter on why humanoid robots are reaching a tipping point
Oregon State University robotics researcher Naomi Fitter spoke with NPR about the factors behind the accelerating development of humanoid robots, which are machines designed to look and move like people.
Why this matters: Humanoid robots are moving from research labs into warehouses, hospitals, and homes. That shift matters because robots shaped like people tend to get treated like people — trusted in ways that other machines are not. That trust can be exploited. A robot that looks human can collect data, model behavior, and operate in spaces designed for people, often without anyone asking whether it should be there. The design choice to make a robot humanoid is never neutral.
Who should care: General readers · AI governance · Policy
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