Exploring the Impacts of AI-Based Physical Robots on Human Well-Being

With the advance of artificial intelligence (AI), AI-based physical robots have emerged as new tools to enhance human well-being in daily life. While previous studies have assessed the effectiveness of robots in healthcare organizations and explored user attitudes and effects in experimental settings, there remains a lack of research on their impact on individual well-being in daily life. This paper seeks to bridge this gap by analyzing user experiences with LOVOT, a physical robot designed to provide emotional support and companionship for individuals in daily life. After analyzing user reviews of LOVOT from two social media platforms, X and RED, we identified four positive themes related to the impact of LOVOT on user well-being: positive emotions, engagement, intimate bonding, and life satisfaction. Additionally, we developed a framework tracing the progression from human-robot inter-actions to the resultant emotional and social impacts, culminating in life satisfaction as an overall measure of well-being. These findings illustrate the holistic impacts of the interactions between humans and AI-based physical robots in daily life, revealing how they both contribute to and complicate the pursuit of enhanced human well-being.