社交机器人与社会：全球接纳路径

Social Robotsand Society: Global Pathways Contents Emerging Opportunities14Key Risks and Challenges15Systemic Challenges to Adoption16Strategic Opportunities for Governance and Innovation17 Global Pathways18Conclusion20 Acknowledgements21 Endnotes22 Image sources:AI generated and Unsplash Disclaimer:The report has been prepared for informational, educational, and guidance purposes.Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek professional advice where appropriate. The information in this report is non-exhaustive and based on information available up to the dateof publication. The ideas and content within this report have been sourced from the Dubai Future Foundation’s researchteam and Dubai Future Labs. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) was used to aid in grammar,summarising, copy-editing, and translation, with human editorial oversight. Where ideas were inspiredby GenAI, they are indicated by an asterisk. Some images in this report were created using GenAI with Copyright © 2026 Dubai Future Foundation. All rights reserved:All material in this report is licensed underthe Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (‘Creative Commons License’), exceptfor content supplied by third parties, logos, and any material protected by trademark or otherwise noted inthis report. The Creative Commons License is a standard form licence agreement that allows you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this report provided you attribute the work and is available at: A full list of third-party information and resources included in this report is provided in the References.This notice also specifically excludes the Dubai Future Foundation name and logo trademarks from thescope of this Creative Commons License. Recommended Citation:UAE Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (2026) ‘Social Robots and Society: Global Pathways to Acceptance’https://www.dubaifuture.ae/social-robots-and-society-global-pathways-to-acceptance Executive Summary As social robots shift from imaginative conceptsto active participants in human environments, a deeperlook at global attitudes and adoption patterns is crucial Social robots are shifting from science-fictionconcepts to real tools in daily environments.They are now appearing in hospitals, classrooms,retail spaces, and even homes. Unlike industrialrobots designed for repetitive tasks, social robotsengage through speech, gesture, and expressive from patient companionship and classroomengagement to enhanced customer interaction – The report identifies emerging opportunitiesand strategic pathways for responsible uptake.It outlines how policymakers, technologydevelopers, and institutional leaders can Although social robots remain in an earlyand exploratory phase of adoption, the centralquestion has shifted from whether humans willinteract with them to how these interactionscan be designed to be ethical, meaningful, With this publication, the UAE C4IR seeksto catalyse a global conversation on the futureof social robots, one that emphasises thoughtfulgovernance, inclusion, and long-term societalbenefit. As social robots continue their steady To better understand these dynamics, the UAECentre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution(UAE C4IR) in collaboration with Dubai FutureLabs undertook an analysis of the societal roleand acceptance of social robots. This workbuilds on original research by Dubai Future Labsat Dubai Future Foundation and previous workfrom Aymerich-Franch and colleagues, who Global perspectives from Japan, Europe, andthe United Arab Emirates (UAE) further illustratethe diversity of motivations and challenges Introduction Public acceptance of social robots is evolving globally,shaped by trust, cultural values, and clear evidence Social robots are physically embodied robotsdesigned to interact with humans throughsocial cues and behaviours. Their definingcharacteristic lies in their capacity to engagewith people, and sometimes with other robots,in exchanges that feel authentically social.Unlike industrial robots hidden in factoriesand designed for precision and repetitive Social robotsare not confinedto factory linesor science fiction;they are entering Social robots are not confined to factory linesor science fiction; they are entering everydayspaces as interactive partners in human life.These robots have appeared in diverse spacessuch as healthcare, education, customer It was not until the early 2000s that humanoidsocial robots entered the commercial sphere,with AIBO, PARO, Nao, and Pepper being amongthe most iconic examples. Retailers deployedthem to greet customers, hospitals and nursinghomes experimented with them to reduce Although we often think of robots as technologiesof the future, the fascination with creatingautomated lifelike machines has been withus since ancient times. Renaissance inventorLeonardo da Vinci sketched designs forhumanoid knights, while Islamic scholarAl-Jazari pioneered early social roboti