Mapping Meaning and Purpose in Human-Robot Teams: Anthropomorphic Agents in Military Operations

We spontaneously tend to project animacy and sensitivity inanimate objects sometimes we attribute distinctively human features like intelligence, goals, reasons certain artificial devices. This phenomenon is called “anthropomorphism” has been long studied by researchers in human-robot interaction social-robotics. These studies are particularly important from the perspective of recent developments military technology, as autonomous systems controlled AI expected play a greater role future warfare. Anthropomorphistic effects can critical tactical operations involving hybrid teams, where service members agents need quickly coordinate relying almost exclusively on fast, cognitively parsimonious, natural forms communication. rely importantly anthropomorphism allow soldiers read behavior machines terms goals intentions. Understanding cognitive mechanisms that underpin anthropomorphistic attributions hence potentially crucial increase accuracy efficacy human-machine operations. However, this question largely philosophical, numerous models compete space social cognition theory explain reading mental states attribution. paper aims offer an initial exploration these philosophical psychology philosophy, reviewing theories most promising predict how it enable improve communication between technologies.