In January 2023, the Proceedings of Robophilosophy 2022 were published. Included is the paper „Robots in Policing“ by Oliver Bendel. From the abstract: „This article is devoted to the question of how robots are used in policing and what opportunities and risks arise in social terms. It begins by briefly explaining the characteristics of modern police work. It puts service robots and social robots in relation to each other and outlines relevant disciplines. The article also lists types of robots that are and could be relevant in the present context. It then gives examples from different countries of the use of robots in police work and security services. From these, it derives the central tasks of robots in this area and their most important technical features. A discussion from social, ethical, and technical perspectives seeks to provide clarity on how robots are changing the police as a social institution and with social actions and relationships, and what challenges need to be addressed.“ (Abstract) Robots and AI systems in police work have become a hot topic. The author accepted manuscript of this article is therefore being made freely available on this site for non-commercial use only and with no derivatives, in line with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.
The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) will take place in London, UK, from 1–4 July 2026. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. The conference has now opened its submission system, and full details can be found on the official ICSR 2026 submission page (icsr2026.uk/submission). Authors are invited to submit to a range of categories. Regular Papers for the Main Track should follow the guidelines provided on the conference website and be submitted by 15 February 2026. Special Session submissions follow the same Regular Paper instructions but are directed to individual sessions listed on the Special Sessions page. Short Papers follow their own dedicated instructions and are submitted through the same system. Competitions and Debates each have their own portals, with submissions due by 1 March 2026. Additional tracks such as the Robot Fringe and Travel Grants will be announced soon. All submission links and instructions are clearly detailed on the ICSR 2026 submission page, ensuring authors have everything they need to prepare their contributions for this major event in social robotics.
Fig.: The Senate Building (Photo: John Lord, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel will host the next ACI Conference, marking the first time the event comes to continental Europe as it convenes on the FHNW campus in Brugg-Windisch, Switzerland, from 2-5 December 2026. Building on a tradition that has taken the community from Glasgow to North Carolina, Newcastle, Bloomington, Milton Keynes, Haifa and Atlanta, this edition continues the conference’s role as the premier venue for advancing Animal-Computer Interaction. As the field grows, researchers and practitioners explore how technology shapes animals‘ lives, wellbeing, cognition and social dynamics while developing animal-centered systems and methods that embrace multispecies perspectives. The conference maintains its commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration across biology, technology and cultural studies, supporting work that seeks to design ethically grounded, welfare-enhancing and inclusive technological futures for all animals, humans included. The official conference website will go live in January 2026. Information on previous ACI conferences is available at www.aciconf.org.
Fig.: Oliver Bendel at the FHNW campus in Brugg-Windisch (Photo: Jork Weismann)
The upcoming „SAGA: Sexuality and Generative AI“ symposium, taking place on April 30, 2026 at the Université du Québec à Montréal, explores how generative AI is reshaping intimacy, desire, relationships, and sexual expression. As AI systems increasingly create images, stories, and even interactive romantic companions, they raise new ethical, legal, and social questions that researchers, practitioners, and industry voices will tackle together. The hybrid, bilingual event is free and open to all, offering live translation and captioning. In its first block on social impacts, the symposium features talks such as Brian Willoughby’s exploration of how romantic AI affects young adults‘ relationships, Arnaud Anciaux’s analysis of ownership and consent around AI-generated sexual content, Beáta Bőthe’s work on AI-generated pornography and problematic use, and Oliver Bendel’s look at erotic chatbot interactions. With discussions ranging from the regulation of AI-generated pornography to digital intimacy and AI-supported therapeutic interventions, the event promises a rich and essential conversation. Full details and submissions are available at event.fourwaves.com/sexualiteia/pages.
The Robophilosophy Conference 2026 will take place August 11–14 at University College Dublin in a hybrid format and centers on the theme „Connected Futures: Nature, Robots, and Society“. As robotics and AI become deeply embedded in human life, the conference invites researchers across disciplines to explore how autonomous systems shape society, ecology, law, labor, and human self-understanding. It raises questions about responsible design, accountability, environmental impact, social justice, cultural perspectives, and the ethics of coexistence with artificial agents. Workshop proposals are due January 16, session papers and posters February 6, with notifications in February and April and proceedings pre-submission on June 15. RP2026 aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue that advances both technological insight and collective wisdom for a future in which humans and autonomous systems share social and ecological worlds. Further information is available at cas.au.dk/en/rpc2026.
Fig.: University College Dublin (Foto: Sharonlflynn, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) will take place in London, UK, from 1-4 July 2026. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. As part of this edition, ICSR 2026 will host a series of live debates in the Debate Room (Senate Room), addressing pressing questions about social robots in society and culture. Debate proposals may focus on conceptual, ethical, scientific, artistic, practical, or societal aspects of social robotics and should connect broadly to the conference topics listed aticsr2026.uk/topics/. Submissions are open to contributors from social robotics, HRI, the arts, design, engineering, the humanities, and related areas, with interdisciplinary proposals particularly encouraged. Formats may include two-sided or multi-position debates, panel discussions, performative debates, or audience-engaged formats. In a nod to British debating traditions, participants are encouraged to wear academic gowns. Proposals are submitted viaicsr2026.uk/debate-proposal, with a submission deadline of 1 March 2026 and notification of acceptance by 15 April 2026.
The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) will take place in London, UK, from 1-4 July 2026. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. As part of this edition, the ICSR 2026 Competition invites visionary concepts and prototypes for social robots that collaborate, care, and connect with people beyond the laboratory. Designers, engineers, artists, researchers, and pupils or students (school, college, and university) are invited to submit projects ranging from functional solutions to artistic or hybrid works. The competition features two categories: the Robot Design Competition, focusing on innovation in functionality, interaction, and application; and the Robot Art Competition, highlighting creative fusions of fashion, art, performance, and robotics. Hybrid projects may apply to both awards. Each entry must be described in a summary of up to two pages (preferably following Springer LNAI formatting), including an abstract of no more than 50 words and sufficient detail to judge novelty and impact. A single optional video link (maximum three minutes) and images or renderings are encouraged. Submissions should indicate whether they apply for the Design Award, the Art Award, or both, and be uploaded via the competition form at: icsr2026.uk/competition/. The competition submission deadline is 1 March 2026; finalists will be notified on 15 April 2026, and winners will be announced on 3 July 2026 during the closing ceremony of ICSR 2026.
Fig.: Competitions are also held at Wembley Stadium
The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) will take place in London, UK, from 1-4 July 2026. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. The conference is accepting workshop proposals until the workshop submission deadline. Approved workshops will be announced 2 weeks after the submission deadline. The deadline for submitting proposals for workshops is 1 December 2025. Further information is available at icsr2026.uk.
Fig.: Inside the Senate House (Photo: stevecadman/CC BY-SA 2.0)
The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) will take place in London, UK, from July 1–4, 2026. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. The conference is accepting special session proposals on a rolling basis until the submission deadline. Approved sessions will be added here as they are confirmed. The deadline for submitting proposals for special sessions is 1 December 2025. Further information is available at icsr2026.uk. Two special sessions have already been accepted, namely „SS01: Cultural Robotics“ and „SS02: Participatory Futures in Social Robotics and AI“.
The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) will take place in London, UK, from 1-4 July 2026. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. This year’s edition will be hosted at Senate House, part of the University of London, located in the heart of central London. The venue is within walking distance of many of the city’s main attractions and stations. Senate House has appeared in several famous films and series, including „Batman Begins“, „The Dark Knight Rises“, „Fast & Furious 6″, „No Time to Die“ (a James Bond film), „Nineteen Eighty-Four“, and the Netflix series „The Crown“. The building inspired George Orwell’s depiction of the Ministry of Truth in „1984″. Further information is available at icsr2026.uk.
Fig.: The famous Art Deco building (Photo: stevecadman/CC BY-SA 2.0)
Bei der Führungskräftetagung der Evangelischen Heimstiftung in Schwäbisch Gmünd hielten am 16. Oktober 2025 Prof. Dr. Andreas Kruse und Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel die Keynotes. Der „Godfather der Gerontologie“, wie er vorgestellt wurde, ging auf Digitalisierungsprojekte in der Pflege ein, der Technikphilosoph auf Pflegeroboter und Allzweckroboter. Dr. Judith Schoch, Leiterin des Instituts für Innovation, Pflege und Alter (IPA), schrieb auf LinkedIn: „Zwei Tage voller Impulse, Austausch und Begegnungen: Unsere Führungskräftetagung der Evangelische Heimstiftung GmbH stand ganz im Zeichen der Zukunft der Pflege im digitalen Wandel. Die Vorträge von Prof. Andreas Kruse und Prof. Oliver Bendel haben inspiriert und zum Nachdenken angeregt: Welche Rolle kann Robotik und KI künftig in der Pflege spielen – und wo liegen ihre Grenzen?“ Die Stiftung sagt auf ihrer Website über sich selbst: „Wir sind Dienstleister und Arbeitgeber rund um das Thema Pflege und Alter.“ Gemeinsames Ziel aller Mitarbeiter sei es, dass die betreuten Menschen „so lange wie möglich ihr Leben selbst gestalten können“.
Abb.: Oliver Bendel bei seinem Vortrag (Foto: Evangelische Heimstiftung)
After three days of hard work, the evening of 12 September was reserved for pleasure. And so, the final day of ICSR 2025 ended with a seaside party. Attendees sipped cocktails or mocktails, exchanged contact information, and shared early memories of the conference. As always, conference host Mariacarla Staffa had chosen an exciting venue, complete with tasteful music and a stunning view of the Gulf of Naples. At one point, some attendees persuaded Oliver Bendel to demonstrate his AIBI – a wearable social robot he had discussed earlier that day during his talk on the topic. The philosopher of technology was initially reluctant – the evening was meant for relaxing, and AIBI’s battery was dead – but when a colleague handed him a power bank, he could no longer refuse. Once revived, the small robot delighted the crowd. Meanwhile, the party continued, bringing together generations from Gen Z to Gen X – and, reportedly, even a Boomer or two. The evening lingered well into the night.
Fig.: Tamara Siegmann, Lorenzo D’Errico, Nihan Karataş, and Oliver Bendel (Photo: ICSR)
The “Artificial Intelligence, Animals, and the Law” conference will take place November 7 – 9, 2025, at The George Washington University Law School. Organized by Kathy Hessler, Jamie McLaughlin, and Joan Schaffner, the event brings together attorneys and experts to examine how AI intersects with animal law and to discuss its implications for humans, animals, and the environment. On November 8, the panel „Applications and Considerations When Using AI for Animals“ will feature Oliver Bendel, Yip Fai Tse, and Karol Orzechowski, with Rachel Pepper as moderator. This session will explore practical uses of AI for animals, addressing both opportunities and challenges in applying emerging technologies to questions of welfare, ethics, and law. With panels ranging from ethical foundations and regulatory issues to the role of AI in research and its broader impact on the planet, the conference is designed to provoke meaningful dialogue and foster new insights at the intersection of artificial intelligence and animal law. The conference flyer can be downloaded here.
Fig.: The conference is on AI, animals, and the law (Image: ChatGPT/4o Image)
The 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + Art 2026) will take place in London, UK, from July 1–4, 2026. ICSR is the leading international forum that brings together researchers, academics, and industry professionals from across disciplines to advance the field of social robotics. For its 18th edition, the conference will feature the special theme ICSR + Art, exploring how robots can transcend their traditional roles to become tools and collaborators in creative practices. At the same time, the conference remains fully open to the entire spectrum of social robotics research, including human–robot interaction, medical and assistive robotics, AI and machine learning, ethics, design, education, cultural applications, and beyond. Accepted papers will be published in Springer’s Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence (LNAI) series and indexed in major databases. In addition to regular and short papers, the program will include workshops and special sessions designed to foster exchange across disciplines and communities. Paper submissions are due by February 15, 2026, with notifications on April 15, 2026, and camera-ready papers due May 15, 2026. Proposals for workshops and special sessions are welcome until December 1, 2025. Further information is available at icsr2026.uk.
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)
