Humanoid Robots as Agents of Human Consciousness Expansion
This addresses the problem of using robots to support human psychological growth, but it is incremental as it builds on existing human-robot interaction frameworks.
The 'Loving AI' project developed software for humanoid robots like Sophia to engage in compassionate interactions aimed at enhancing human self-understanding and well-being, with a pilot study in 2017 qualitatively showing viability and positive effects on human consciousness.
The "Loving AI" project involves developing software enabling humanoid robots to interact with people in loving and compassionate ways, and to promote people' self-understanding and self-transcendence. Currently the project centers on the Hanson Robotics robot "Sophia" -- specifically, on supplying Sophia with personality content and cognitive, linguistic, perceptual and behavioral content aimed at enabling loving interactions supportive of human self-transcendence. In September 2017 a small pilot study was conducted, involving the Sophia robot leading human subjects through dialogues and exercises focused on meditation, visualization and relaxation. The pilot was an apparent success, qualitatively demonstrating the viability of the approach and the ability of appropriate human-robot interaction to increase human well-being and advance human consciousness.