Challenges and opportunities for the adoption and integration of Human-Robot Interaction technologies

The integration and adoption of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) technologies present numerous challenges and opportunities, with adoption referring to the stage in which they are initially selected for use, and integration referring to a sense of acceptance and transparency within the user environment once they’ve been adopted. As we move towards a hybrid society where we must coexist with agents such as robots, issues such as privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and the potential displacement of human workers by robots need to be addressed. However, the opportunities are equally compelling, including improved efficiency, enhanced safety in hazardous environments, and the potential for robots to as- sist in tasks that are physically demanding or repetitive for humans. We propose to run a workshop on the challenges and opportuni- ties that the adoption and integration of HRI technologies pose in the creation of this hybrid society as a crucial platform for re- searchers, developers, and other stakeholders to collaborate, share insights, and address these opportunities and challenges collectively. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, our workshop can catal- yse innovation by fostering discussion, establishing best practices, and informing policies surrounding the responsible integration of robots into society and Industry. Furthermore, the community stands to gain invaluable knowledge, networking opportunities, and the chance to shape the future of HRI technologies while con- sidering the technological and social factors that play a crucial role in the adoption and integration of such technologies. With this workshop, our main objective is to create a welcoming environ- ment to discuss the issues surrounding the adoption and integration of Human-Robot Interaction technologies in different topic areas, as well as to explore together with attendees the potential ways forward to improve this.