How social robots are transforming healthcare in a Paris hospital

Social robots are not just toys or entertainment devices. They are also becoming valuable tools for healthcare, especially for elderly patients who need social interaction and guidance. In a recent trial at the Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, researchers from Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University deployed a social robot named ARI to interact with patients and staff in the gerontology department.

ARI is a humanoid robot that can speak, gesture, and display emotions on its face. It can also recognize faces, voices, and emotions of humans, and adapt its behavior accordingly. ARI was designed to communicate with people using natural language and large language models, which enable it to have fluent and meaningful conversations.

The trial, which was part of the Socially Assistive Robots in Gerontological Healthcare (SPRING) project, aimed to evaluate the impact of social robots on the patient experience and the staff productivity. The researchers found that ARI was able to greet patients, answer questions, and provide directions, thus reducing the workload for staff members and increasing their efficiency. ARI was also able to understand and participate in multi-party dialogues, and to follow the conversation among several individuals.

The patients, who were mostly over 65 years old, showed increasing interest and curiosity in robotics during the trial. They enjoyed talking to ARI and learning about its capabilities. Some of them even expressed a desire to have a robot like ARI at home. The staff members also reported positive feedback on ARI, and suggested that it could be useful for patients with cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, who need more social stimulation and support.

The trial demonstrated that social robots can enhance the quality of healthcare delivery and improve the well-being of patients and staff. However, it also raised some ethical, legal, and social (ELS) issues that need to be addressed before social robots can be widely adopted in healthcare settings. Some of these issues include:

• Privacy and data protection: How can the personal data collected by social robots be stored, processed, and shared securely and transparently? Who owns and controls the data? How can the privacy rights and preferences of patients and staff be respected and protected?
• Trust and accountability: How can the trust and confidence of patients and staff in social robots be established and maintained? Who is responsible and liable for the actions and outcomes of social robots? How can the errors and risks of social robots be detected and corrected?
• Human dignity and autonomy: How can the dignity and autonomy of patients and staff be preserved and promoted in their interactions with social robots? How can the human-robot relationship be balanced and respectful? How can the emotional and psychological effects of social robots be monitored and managed?
• Social and cultural implications: How can the social and cultural diversity and values of patients and staff be recognized and accommodated by social robots? How can the social and cultural norms and expectations of human-robot interaction be established and communicated? How can the social and cultural impact of social robots be assessed and evaluated?

These are some of the questions that need to be answered before social robots can become an integral part of healthcare. To do so, a multidisciplinary and participatory approach is needed, involving researchers, developers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, patients, and the public. Only then can the full potential and benefits of social robots be realized and maximized, while minimizing the possible harms and challenges.

Types of social robots

Social robots can be classified into different types according to their appearance, function, and interaction mode. The following table summarizes some of the main types of social robots and their examples.