Furhat Robotics | The 8th Furhat Conference On Social Robotics

Welcome to the 8th Furhat Conference

Themed "The Human in Humanoids: Advancing Research in Human-Robot Interaction” the conference will take place on Tuesday April 29th at 5:00-6:40 PM CEST (11:00-12:40 PM EDT).‍Over the past year a large group of robotics companies have made a strong push to accelerate deployment of full-body humanoid robots into human workplaces and into society as a whole. Just as with the widespread adoption of smartphones, the ethics and societal consequences of mass deployment of this technology is still understudied. With production planned to reach thousands of robots in 2025, there is an urgent need for researchers to evaluate the benefits, potential harm and risks of human interaction with these machines. Representing the social side of humanoid robotics, the 8th Furhat Conference is dedicated to bringing thought leaders and practitioners to highlight the most recent discussions and advancements in the field. Join us at this very exciting moment in history and discover the future of Human-Robot Interaction research and socially intelligent humanoid robots.

Speakers

We bring you experts from leading global research institutions in the field of HRI

Gabriel Skantze

Co-founder & Chief Scientist, Furhat Robotics

Gabriel Skantze, Chief Scientist and co-founder of Furhat Robotics, is a Professor in Speech Technology at KTH, specializing in Conversational Systems. He leads multiple research projects and has published over 100 papers on conversational systems and human-robot interaction.

Oscar Klock

Product Owner, Furhat Robotics

Coming from Cognitive Science and Neuroscience, Oscar is leading the Furhat Robotics' development team, aiming to build a more human-centric technological future.

Dr. Theodoros Georgiou

Assistant professor, Heriot Watt-University

Dr. Theodoros Georgiou received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from The Open University, UK, in 2018. His research at Heriot-Watt lies at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction and healthcare technologies, focusing on improving rehabilitation for physical and neurological conditions through innovative wearable devices, often integrated with robotic agents.

Dr. David Robb

Research Fellow, Heriot-Watt University

Dr. David Robb completed his Ph.D. on Crowdsourced Intuitive Visual Design Feedback in 2015. Dr. Robb contributes to two EPSRC projects on human behaviour in laser system alignment and trust in autonomous systems. His research spans Human-Robot Interaction, Explainable AI, image-based emotion feedback, and collaborative computing, with prior experience as Experimental Lead for HRI at the Oxford Robotics Institute.

Bruce Wilson, MEng, PhD Candidate

Research Associate and PhD candidate, Heriot-Watt University

Mr. Wilson holds an MEng in Software Engineering with distinction from Heriot-Watt University, where he received the British Computer Society Prize for best student. His research within this University investigates how storytelling by robots can enhance Human-Robot Interaction, improving understanding, memory recall, and engagement. By exploring tasks like navigation, explanation, and decision-making, he aims to develop a model for more natural, narrative-driven interactions.

Jura Miniota

Moderator and PhD candidate, KTH

Ms. Miniota is specialising in Socially Embodied Artificial Intelligence focusing on developing social robots that act as enjoyable companions in collaborative settings like tabletop games. Her research explores how robots can make social decisions by using human interaction data and AI models, creating natural, multimodal behaviours.

The 6th Furhat Conference – Panel Discussion

This panel discussion brought together Håkan Lidbo, an innovative Swedish musician and producer; Ross Mead, CEO and founder of Semio, a robotics company that specializes in developing social communication technologies for robots; Gabriel Skantze, a distinguished Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Chief Scientist at Furhat Robotics; as well as Amanda Stenberg, from the Swedish Art Centre to discuss social robotics applicaitons in business, education, art, and research.

The Human in Humanoid

Advancing research in Human-Robot Interaction