Why do robots look like girls?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Why do robots look like girls?

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#233892 8-May-2018 11:20

There is currently an image of a 'female' robot illustrating an article on RNZ about AI. This started me thinking and it occurred to me that the overwhelming majority (though not all) of humanoid robots are made to look like young, attractive females. I even happened to see part of a documentary the other day on a company that is manufacturing AI sexbots capable of conducting conversations with their owners.

I can understand sexbots to some extent as they are being produced for a specific purpose, but why are supposedly 'serious' robots also made in the image of young females? Why are the voices of Siri and Alexa young females? Why do all the chatbot assistants have female names?

Is there some kind of new male chauvinism driving this? Women now have to be respected and paid equally, but robots can be made to replace 1950s male ego massaging secretaries. What does this tell us about current real attitudes? Has anything actually changed?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

1 | 2 | 3

1739 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 726

Subscriber

#2009853 8-May-2018 11:50

(guessing here) Perhaps because designers think they would be perceived as less threatening/intimidating than a burly manbot or just more aesthetically pleasing? Of course I am then also making the assumption that the majority of said influencers of the design are also male...

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3317

Trusted

#2009858 8-May-2018 11:53

To appeal to the nerdy, virgin guys who'll likely never have a real girlfriend?

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 759
Inactive user

#2009904 8-May-2018 12:41

Apple happily offers male and female versions of Siri in every language (or every one I tried anyway).. its only the 'default' setting that tends to be female (and statistically has a 50/50 chance of having been the other way around anyway?)

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2009929 8-May-2018 13:21

Item:
(guessing here) Perhaps because designers think they would be perceived as less threatening/intimidating than a burly manbot or just more aesthetically pleasing? Of course I am then also making the assumption that the majority of said influencers of the design are also male...

Even without that, you're dealing with a public that's been exposed to endless books and films about robots taking over. If you had to present an image of a humanoid robot to a sceptical public, would you choose:

or:

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#2009933 8-May-2018 13:25

Not a fair comparison. The first one has an aggressive expression. Give it a goofy smile instead.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12765

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2009939 8-May-2018 13:30

Rikkitic:
There is currently an image of a 'female' robot illustrating an article on RNZ about AI. This started me thinking and it occurred to me that the overwhelming majority (though not all) of humanoid robots are made to look like young, attractive females. I even happened to see part of a documentary the other day on a company that is manufacturing AI sexbots capable of conducting conversations with their owners.

I can understand sexbots to some extent as they are being produced for a specific purpose, but why are supposedly 'serious' robots also made in the image of young females? Why are the voices of Siri and Alexa young females? Why do all the chatbot assistants have female names?

Is there some kind of new male chauvinism driving this? Women now have to be respected and paid equally, but robots can be made to replace 1950s male ego massaging secretaries. What does this tell us about current real attitudes? Has anything actually changed?

You are reading too much into it. Research shows they are less threatening and accepted easier if using certain facial features.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.