One of the highlights of ICSR 2025 was the presentation of Miroka, a member of the Mirokaï robot family developed by Enchanted Tools. She can grasp and manipulate objects with her hands. During the demonstration, she used these skills to operate her Bubble Flower – a potted artificial plant that can blow soap bubbles. In videos, Jérôme Monceaux, founder and CEO of Enchanted Tools, showed Miroka grasping various objects and even pulling a cart. The Mirokaï robots are placed within a narrative context through storytelling. As explained on the company’s website: „By creating the Mirokaï – a species driven by advanced technology and true altruism – we aim to inspire self-reflection and foster a deeper understanding of otherness. By bringing poetry into technology, we make working and living with robots more pleasant.“ (Website Enchanted Tools, Own Translation) Several hundred participants watched the activities of Miroka, who had come to Earth and enchanted everyone.
At the last session of the ICSR on September 12, 2025, Oliver Bendel presented his full paper titled „Wearable Social Robots for the Disabled and Impaired“. He began by defining the term wearable social robots, which he sees as a special form and combination of wearable robots and social robots. One example is AIBI, a small robot that he briefly wore around his neck during the talk. Wearable social robots can include functions for games and entertainment, information and learning, navigation and description, and combating loneliness and anxiety. Potential user groups include pupils and students, prison inmates, astronauts, and disabled and impaired persons. Franziska and Julia demonstrated in videos how they use AIBI as a companion and for social support. With this paper, Oliver Bendel continued his work in the field of inclusive AI and inclusive Robotics. The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide, and its 17th edition took place from September 10 to 12, 2025, in Naples, Italy. Mariacarla Staffa (University of Naples Parthenope, Italy), John-John Cabibihan (Qatar University, Qatar), and Bruno Siciliano (University of Naples Federico II) served as the main organizers. Over the course of the three days, 300 participants attended, contributing once again to the advancement of social robotics.
Fig.: Oliver Bendel at the beginning of his talk (Photo: Tamara Siegmann)
At the last day of the ICSR on September 12, 2025, Katharina Kühne presented her full paper titled „Small Talk with a Robot Reduces Stress and Improves Mood“ (written together with Antonia L. Z. Klöffel, Oliver Bendel, and Martin H. Fischer). Previous research has shown that social support reduces stress and improves mood. This study tested whether small talk with a social robot could be helpful. After performing a stressful task, 98 participants either chatted with a NAO robot, listened to the robot tell a neutral story, or did not interact with the robot. Both robot interactions reduced stress – particularly small talk, which also boosted positive mood. The effects were stronger in participants with high acute stress. Positive affect played a key role in stress reduction, suggesting that robot-mediated small talk may be a useful tool for providing emotional support. Dr. Katharina Kühne and Prof. Dr. Martin H. Fischer are researchers at the University of Potsdam. Antonia L. Z. Klöffel assists Katharina Kühne as a junior scientist. Martin Fischer is the head of the Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group (PECoG). Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel is an associated researcher with PECoG.
On September 12, 2025, Dutch FashionTech designer Anouk Wipprecht gave a keynote speech entitled „The Intersection of Fashion, Robotics and Technology“ at ICSR 2025 in Naples. In her presentation, she demonstrated how fashion can become an interactive experience that goes far beyond pure aesthetics by incorporating state-of-the-art technologies and scientific insights. With her designs, Wipprecht explores how clothing can transform not only our perception but also our relationship with the environment. A striking example of this is her Spider Dress, which uses integrated sensors and movable limbs to create a kind of technologically enhanced personal space. She collaborates with renowned partners such as Intel, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Audi, and Swarovski, employing techniques like machine learning, biomimetic design, and microcontroller-driven animatronics. Her creations breathe, move, and respond to external stimuli – always with the aim of exploring new interfaces between humans and technology, and encouraging her generation to reflect on the future of the human body in digital space.
The third and final day of ICSR 2025, September 12, 2025, began with a keynote speech by Jérôme Monceaux entitled „Emotivation by Design: The Mirokaï“. Present was one of the Mirokaï, spectacular robots that roll on a sphere, the female Miroka. Jérôme Monceaux’s keynote traced the evolution of robotics toward more intuitive, inspiring, and joyful interactions. From the iconic Nao and Pepper robots at Aldebaran to the latest generation of social robots, The Mirokaï by Enchanted Tools, his innovative approach reshaped design, mobility, and user experience. He shared his vision for humanoid robots built to support people in everyday life and work. By combining bold engineering with endearing character design, embodied AI, and meaningful storytelling, Jérôme Monceaux and his team created a cohesive hardware and software ecosystem that integrated naturally into social environments – especially in care settings like senior living and pediatric hospitals. The approximately 300 participants watched enthusiastically as the inventor and visionary spoke to Miroka on stage and handed it a bubble flower, which it accepted and used.
Fig.: Oliver Bendel with Miroka in Naples (Photo: Tamara Siegmann)
The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide, and its 17th edition will take place from 10 to 12 September 2025 in Naples, Italy. As part of the program, the Young Leaders Committee invites participants to join a variety of activities designed to inspire exchange, creativity, and community spirit. Highlights include a photo contest where up to three photos can be submitted to capture the atmosphere of ICSR + AI 2025, with the winning entry featured at next year’s event. The PhD Corner offers a daily space for 30-minute themed sessions on topics such as writing, career paths, academic tools, and well-being, encouraging open discussion and networking. In addition, spontaneous meetups provide a relaxed environment for sharing ideas, making friends, and enjoying the moment together. The Young Leaders Committee, represented by Lorenzo D’Errico from the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, Tamara Siegmann from the FHNW School of Business in Switzerland, and Nihan Karataş from Nagoya University in Japan, ensures that these activities will make ICSR + AI 2025 an unforgettable experience.
On September 10, 2025, Tamara Siegmann and Oliver Bendel presented their short paper „Wearable Social Robots in Space“ at the ICSR poster session. The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide. The 17th edition takes place from 10 to 12 September 2025 in Naples, Italy. The term „wearable social robots“ was introduced by Oliver Bendel in his article „Wearable Robots“ and in his full paper „Wearable Social Robots for the Disabled and Impaired“ (both from 2025). These are social robots with features of wearables and wearable robots. One example is AIBI from LivingAI. Tamara Siegmann and Oliver Bendel, both from the FHNW School of Business, investigated possibilities for the use of wearable social robots in a Mars mission. They demonstrated that these are useful for daily routine support, operational assistance, intimacy-related support, communication enhancement, and social facilitation. This is the first study of its kind. However, reference could be made to several projects involving humanoid and social robots for space missions. The poster can be downloaded here.
On September 10, 2025, the workshop „Social Robotics Girl Becomes a Social Robot“ took place at ICSR 2025. The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide. The 17th edition takes place from 10 to 12 September 2025 in Naples, Italy. The workshop was led by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW School of Business, Switzerland), Tamara Siegmann (FHNW School of Business, Switzerland), Leo Angelo Cabibihan (Roboticscool, Qatar), and Prof. Dr. John-John Cabibihan (Qatar University, Qatar). For the GPT, which was created by Oliver Bendel at the end of 2023, a suitable body and head were sought, with embodiment in the broadest sense being the goal. Leo Angelo Cabibihan and John-John Cabibihan had already created several models with Meshy and printed them out using a 3D printer. At the request of the participants, three groups with different goals were formed. The first group wanted to create an avatar and a figure with a human-like appearance, the second with a thing-like appearance, and the third with a gender-neutral appearance. First, Oliver Bendel gave an introduction to the creation of GPTs. Tamara Siegmann reported on her experiences with Social Robotics Girl. John-John Cabibihan introduced the use of the tools. The individual groups considered their embodiment. Avatars were created and animated with Meshy. Then the first models went into print. A final presentation summarized the possibilities and challenges.
Fig.: Some examples for the embodiment of Social Robotics Girl (Photo: Tamara Siegmann)
Mariacarla Staffa (University of Naples Parthenope, Italy) opened the ICSR 2025 on September 10, 2025, together with Bruno Siciliano (University of Naples Federico II). The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide. The 17th edition takes place from 10 to 12 September 2025 in Naples, Italy. Daniela Rus (MIT) then gave her keynote speech on „Physical AI“. From the abstract: „In today’s robot revolution a record 3.1 million robots are now working in factories, doing everything from assembling computers to packing goods and monitoring air quality and performance. A far greater number of smart machines impact our lives in countless other ways – improving the precision of surgeons, cleaning our homes, extending our reach to distant worlds – and we’re on the cusp of even more exciting opportunities. Future machines, enabled by recent advances in AI, will come in diverse forms and materials, embodying a new level of physical intelligence. Physical Intelligence is achieved when AI’s power to understand text, images, signals, and other information is used to make physical machines such as robots intelligent. However, a critical challenge remains: balancing AI’s capabilities with sustainable energy usage. To achieve effective physical intelligence, we need energy-efficient AI systems that can run reliably on robots, sensors, and other edge devices. In this talk I will discuss the energy challenges of foundational AI models, I will introduce several state space models and explain how they achieve energy efficiency, and I will talk about how state space models enable physical intelligence.“ The approximately 300 participants at the renowned conference on social robotics applauded and then went on to parallel sessions featuring lectures, workshops, and poster presentations. The booklet provides an overview of the entire program.
On September 4, 2025, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) announced the continuation of the AAAI Spring Symposium Series. The symposium will be held from April 7–9, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, California. The call for proposals for the symposium series is available on its website. According to the organizers, proposals are due October 24, 2025, and early submissions are encouraged. „The Spring Symposium Series is an annual set of meetings run in parallel at a common site. It is designed to bring colleagues together in an intimate forum while at the same time providing a significant gathering point for the AI community. The two and one-half day format of the series allows participants to devote considerably more time to feedback and discussion than typical one-day workshops. It is an ideal venue for bringing together new communities in emerging fields.“ (AAAI website). As was the case this year, the Spring Symposium Series will once again not be held on the Stanford University campus. For many years, the History Corner served as the traditional venue for the event. Efforts to secure an alternative university location in the Bay Area have been unsuccessful. AAAI should seriously consider returning to Stanford in 2027. Only then can the Spring Symposium Series regain the atmosphere and significance it once enjoyed.
Die ICSR, die neben der Robophilosophy führende Konferenz zur Sozialen Robotik, findet vom 10. bis 12. September 2025 in Neapel (Italien) statt. General Chair ist Mariacarla Staffa, General Co-Chair John-John Cabibihan. Zwei Mitglieder der Hochschule für Wirtschaft FHNW sind gleich in mehreren Rollen vertreten. Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel stellt am letzten Tag sein Paper „Wearable Social Robots for the Disabled and Impaired“ vor. Davor präsentiert Dr. Katharina Kühne (Universität Potsdam), seine ehemalige Doktorandin, ihr Paper „Small Talk with a Robot Reduces Stress and Improves Mood“ (mit Antonio L. Z. Klöffel, Oliver Bendel und Prof. Dr. Martin H. Fischer). Am ersten Tag findet der Workshop „Social Robotics Girl Becomes a Social Robot“ von Oliver Bendel und Tamara Siegmann (ebenfalls Hochschule für Wirtschaft FHNW) sowie Leo Angelo Cabibihan (Roboticscool, Qatar) und Prof. Dr. John-John Cabibihan (Qatar University, Qatar) statt. In einer der Pausen präsentieren Tamara Siegmann und Oliver Bendel ihr Paper „Wearable Social Robots in Space“ in der Postersession. Oliver Bendel ist am Tag darauf Chair der Session „Applications in Real-World Case Studies“ (mit Cristina Gena). Oliver Bendel und Tamara Siegmann haben die ICSR seit mehreren Monaten unterstützt, er als Chair des Publicity Committee, sie als Member des Young Leaders Committee. Mit Stephan Vonschallen ist noch ein weiterer Mitarbeiter der Hochschule für Wirtschaft FHNW vertreten. Das Paper, bei dem er Erstautor ist, trägt den Titel „Knowledge-based design requirements for persuasive generative social robots in eldercare“.
The short paper „Wearable Social Robots in Space“ by Tamara Siegmann and Oliver Bendel (FHNW School of Business) has been accepted for presentation at the International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR). The conference will take place from September 10 to 12, 2025, in Naples, Italy. Social robots have been explored on Earth since the 1990s, but this study considers their application beyond our planet – specifically, on manned missions to Mars. The focus lies on wearable social robots, a promising form factor due to their compact size and light weight. Using AIBI as a case study, the short paper examines how such a robot could support astronauts under the unique psychological and environmental conditions of deep space travel. The authors discuss the little robot’s potential roles and highlight directions for future development, particularly in improving human-robot interaction and communication. The findings suggest that wearable social robots like AIBI could offer valuable support on long-duration space missions.
Fig.: An astronaut with AIBI (Image: ChatGPT/4o Image)
Chatbots, voice assistants, and robots – both programmable machines and social robots – had been used in learning for decades. At the GROUND 2025 Workshop on 30 June 2025, held as part of the IAS 2025 in Genoa, Italy, Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel from the FHNW School of Business in Switzerland presented his own projects from the past 15 years. Some of his chatbots and voice assistants, such as GOODBOT, BESTBOT, and SPACE THEA, recognized user problems and responded appropriately. They demonstrated empathy and emotion. Pepper had been used as an educational application for children with diabetes, and Alpha Mini served as an educational tool in elementary schools. Chatbots for dead, endangered, and extinct languages such as @ve, @llegra, and kAIxo were designed to be integrated into learning environments for all age groups. In recent years, the technology philosopher and information systems expert primarily used GPT-based systems such as Social Robotics Girl and Digital Ethics Girl in his courses. These systems were capable of receiving and answering questions from multiple students simultaneously, even when the questions were asked in different languages. Thanks to prompt engineering and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), they became specialists in their respective domains. In his keynote „Robots, chatbots, and voice assistants in the classroom“, Oliver Bendel asked how chatbots, voice assistants, and social robots would be designed as adaptive systems for multi-user settings in the future. These capabilities were considered especially important in classroom environments.
Fig.: Oliver Bendel in Genoa (Photo: Giulia Pusceddu)
The GROUND workshop (advancing GROup UNderstanding and robots‘ aDaptive behavior) took place for the third time on 30 June 2025 as part of the IAS 19 conference in Genoa, Italy. This full-day event focused on robotics in multi-party scenarios and human-robot interaction in groups. The possibilities of adaptivity and personalization were particularly in demand. The workshop provided a unique platform for researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas, explore new approaches, and network with a passionate community working at the intersection of social interaction and robotics. After Giuilia Pusceddu’s introduction, three keynotes took place. Prof. Dr. Silvia Rossi (University of Naples) talked about „Personalization and Context-awareness in Service Robotics: from Individuals to Groups“, Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW School of Business) about „Robots, Chatbots, and Voice Assistants in the Classroom“, and Prof. Dr. Isabel Neto (University of Lisbon) about „Fostering Inclusion among Mixed-Ability Children through Social Robots“. The short paper presentations and a tutorial by Lorenzo Ferrini took place in the afternoon.
The International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR) has announced its third keynote speaker. Anouk Wipprecht, a pioneering Dutch fashion designer, is at the forefront of the FashionTech movement. She blends fashion design with engineering, science, and user experience. She is known for her visionary approach to wearable technology and creates technological couture – clothing that actively communicates, responds, and evolves with the wearer. Her groundbreaking designs, such as the iconic Intel-Edison-powered Spider Dress, use sensors and artificial intelligence to respond to the wearer’s stress levels and external stimuli, thereby transforming garments into intelligent, expressive systems. Her work reimagines fashion as a dynamic interface between humans and their environments. Through her collaborations with Intel Corporation, Google, Microsoft, AUDI AG, Autodesk, and others, Wipprecht continues to redefine how we wear and experience technology. Her creations challenge traditional fashion norms and open new dialogues between bodies, machines, and the spaces we inhabit. More information is available at icsr2025.eu.
Fig.: Anouk Wipprecht is the third keynote speaker (Image: ICSR 2025)
The paper „Small Talk with a Robot Reduces Stress and Improves Mood“ by Katharina Kühne, Antonia L. Z. Klöffel, Oliver Bendel, and Martin H. Fischer has been accepted for presentation at the ICSR 2025, which will take place in Naples from September 10 to 12, 2025. Previous research has shown that social support reduces stress and improves mood. This study tested whether small talk with a social robot could be helpful. After performing a stressful task, 98 participants either chatted with a NAO robot, listened to the robot tell a neutral story, or did not interact with the robot. Both robot interactions reduced stress, particularly small talk, which also boosted positive mood. The effects were stronger in those with high acute stress. Positive affect played a key role in stress reduction, suggesting that robot-mediated small talk may be a useful tool for providing emotional support. Dr. Katharina Kühne and Prof. Dr. Martin H. Fischer are researchers at the University of Potsdam. Antonia L. Z. Klöffel assists Katharina Kühne as a junior scientist. Martin Fischer is the head of the Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group (PECoG). Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel is a PECoG associated researcher. Further information about the conference is available at icsr2025.eu.
The market for wearable social robots remains relatively small. As illustrated by the case of AIBI, early models often face typical teething problems, with user forums filled with questions and complaints. Nevertheless, these technologies hold potential for a wide range of future applications, offering support and benefits not only to healthy individuals but also to people with disabilities or impairments. The paper „Wearable Social Robots for the Disabled and Impaired“ by Oliver Bendel explores this topic in depth. It defines wearable social robots and situates them within the broader category of wearable robotics. The paper presents several examples and outlines potential application areas specifically for individuals with disabilities. It also addresses key social, ethical, economic, and technical challenges, building on the preceding analysis. The paper has been accepted for presentation at ICSR 2025, which will take place in Naples from September 10 to 12.
The ICSR is one of the leading conferences for social robotics worldwide. The 17th edition will take place from 10 to 12 September 2025 in Naples, Italy. The deadline for submitting short papers is approaching. Short papers consist of 5 pages of body text plus 1 page references. The most important conference dates are: Short Paper Submission: June 18, 2025; Short Paper Notification: July 7t, 2025; Camera-ready: July 11, 2025; Paper Presentation Days at ICSR’25: September 11 and 12, 2025. All dates are listed on the website. „The conference of theme, ‚Emotivation at the Core: Empowering Social Robots to Inspire and Connect,‘ highlights the essential role of ‚Emotivation‘ in social robotics. Emotivation captures the synergy between emotion and motivation, where emotions trigger and sustain motivation during interactions. In social robotics, this concept is key to building trust, fostering empathy, and supporting decision-making by enabling robots to respond sensitively to human emotions, inspiring engagement and action.“ (Website ICSR) Participants will meet for two days at the Parthenope University of Naples and for the third day at the Città della Scienza conference center. All buildings and rooms are also listed on the website. The PDF of the CfP can be downloaded here.
Unter dem Titel „Mensch 2.0: Die Vision des universellen Roboters“ hielt Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel am 4. Juni 2025 ab 19 Uhr in der Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart den Eröffnungsvortrag zur Tagung „Next Frontiers“ … Dabei zeigte er auf, dass alle Elemente einer solchen Maschine vorhanden sind. Man muss sie nur noch zusammenfügen, was freilich keine triviale Aufgabe ist. Robotische Zweibeiner, die als Allzweckroboter vermarktet werden, können als Vorstufen universeller Roboter gelten. Figure, Digit und Apollo arbeiten bereits in Fabriken auf der ganzen Welt … Danach trug auf dem Podium die Autorin Emma Braslavsky („Ich bin dein Mensch“, verfilmt von Maria Schrader) aus einem Dialog mit Claude vor, einem LLM-basierten Chatbot. Dieser beeindruckte durch Beschreibungen seiner eigenen Existenz. Sie sprach mit Oliver Bendel, inzwischen auch auf dem Podium, über die neuesten Entwicklungen und ihre Folgen. Die Moderation oblag Thomas Klingenmaier, Redakteur der Stuttgarter Zeitung. Schließlich wurde das Publikum einbezogen. So groß war das Interesse, dass der Saal auch nach drei Stunden noch vollbesetzt war. Alle Erkenntnisse und Eindrücke hat der Zeichner und Illustrator Heyko Stöber eingefangen, einer der Besten seines Fachs.
The workshop „Social Robotics Girl Becomes a Social Robot“ is part ot the ICSR 2025 in Naples. Workshop leaders are Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW School of Business), Tamara Siegmann (FHNW School of Business), Leo Angelo Cabibihan (Roboticscool, Qatar), and Prof. Dr. John-John Cabibihan (Qatar University). Social Robotics Girl is a chatbot – a so-called custom GPT – used in social robotics courses by Oliver Bendel, e.g., in the „Soziale Roboter“ („Social Robots“) elective module at the FHNW School of Business. It was supplemented with manuscripts on social robotics with the help of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). It is available via chatgpt.com/g/g-TbhZSZaer-social-robotics-girl … The hands-on workshop explores how to extend Social Robotics Girl beyond a digital assistant into a physical, embodied social robot. By integrating the GPT into a simple humanoid robotic structure, such as a robotic head or bust, participants will examine how embodiment (in the specific and general sense) can influence functionality, user interaction, and perceived social presence. Further information is now available on both the ICSR 2025 and workshop websites.
On May 28, 2025, the „Proceedings of the 2025 AAAI Spring Symposium Series“ (Vol. 5 No. 1) were published. Oliver Bendel was involved in two papers at the symposium „Human-Compatible AI for Well-being: Harnessing Potential of GenAI for AI-Powered Science“. The paper „Revisiting the Trolley Problem for AI: Biases and Stereotypes in Large Language Models and their Impact on Ethical Decision-Making“ by Sahan Hatemo, Christof Weickhardt, Luca Gisler, and Oliver Bendel is summarized as follows: „The trolley problem has long served as a lens for exploring moral decision-making, now gaining renewed significance in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). This study investigates ethical reasoning in three open-source large language models (LLMs) – LLaMA, Mistral and Qwen – through variants of the trolley problem. By introducing demographic prompts (age, nationality and gender) into three scenarios (switch, loop and footbridge), we systematically evaluate LLM responses against human survey data from the Moral Machine experiment. Our findings reveal notable differences: Mistral exhibits a consistent tendency to over-intervene, while Qwen chooses to intervene less and LLaMA balances between the two. Notably, demographic attributes, particularly nationality, significantly influence LLM decisions, exposing potential biases in AI ethical reasoning. These insights underscore the necessity of refining LLMs to ensure fairness and ethical alignment, leading the way for more trustworthy AI systems.“ The renowned and traditional conference took place from March 31 to April 2, 2025 in San Francisco. The proceedings are available at ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AAAI-SS/issue/view/654.
On May 28, 2025, the „Proceedings of the 2025 AAAI Spring Symposium Series“ (Vol. 5 No. 1) were published. Oliver Bendel was involved in two papers at the symposium „Human-Compatible AI for Well-being: Harnessing Potential of GenAI for AI-Powered Science“. The paper „Miss Tammy as a Use Case for Moral Prompt Engineering“ by Myriam Rellstab and Oliver Bendel is summarized as follows: „This paper describes an LLM-based chatbot as a use case for moral prompt engineering. Miss Tammy, as it is called, was created between February 2024 and February 2025 at the FHNW School of Business as a custom GPT. Different types of prompt engineering were used. In addition, RAG was applied by building a knowledge base with a collection of netiquettes. These usually guide the behavior of users in communities but also seem to be useful to control the actions of chatbots and make them competent in relation to the behavior of humans. The tests with pupils aged between 14 and 16 showed that the custom GPT had significant advantages over the standard GPT-4o model in terms of politeness, appropriateness, and clarity. It is suitable for de-escalating conflicts and steering dialogues in the right direction. It can therefore contribute to users’ well-being and is a step forward in human-compatible AI.“ The renowned and traditional conference took place from March 31 to April 2, 2025 in San Francisco. The proceedings are available at ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AAAI-SS/issue/view/654.
