More Than Human-Robot Interaction (Keynote)

As robots increasingly move from laboratories into homes, streets, and public spaces, they enter environments shared by multiple species. Yet, HRI predominantly considers only human users, treating animals as obstacles to navigate rather than as those impacted by or potential users of robotics. This keynote challenges the anthropocentric paradigm by presenting empirical evidence of animals as active technology users, able to make choices, express preferences, learn, and form relationships through interactive computer devices. Drawing on studies with dogs, parrots, and primates, I propose a more-than-human design framework that considers animals both as direct users who can control robotic systems and as individuals impacted by HRI deployments. I argue that even if our ultimate goal is to build better robots for humans, this expanded perspective will help us achieve it while opening new possibilities for animals themselves.