Industry 5.0: Are We Going to Accept Robots as Co-Workers in Office Environments? An Empirical Analysis

This research aims to assess the readiness of professionals working in offices to accept robots as co-workers, and to provide insight for robot developers and organizations in promoting robot acceptance. This study investigates the acceptance of robots in office environments using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, extended with a specific focus on perceived sociability. A two-country comparative approach was employed. The research involved participants from the United Kingdom and Turkey to explore differences on robot acceptance. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire with demographics, robot usage or intention to use, and robot appearance preferences, targeting working professionals in office environments. The findings highlight key factors influencing behavioral intentions to use robots, including performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and perceived sociability. Our research results indicate that robots will likely to be accepted in our future office work environments. The results provide actionable insights for designing socially interactive robots and utilizing them in diverse workplace environments. Future research directions include expanding the cultural scope and utilizing qualitative methods for the additional investigation of factors that may enhance our understanding of robot acceptance.