September 27, 2026
Slate recently published an article featuring Carey Morewedge, Department Chair and Professor of Marketing, discussing how the viral failures of humanoid robots at the World Humanoid Games may actually help make the technology more relatable and less intimidating to the public.
Morewedge, who has studied human-robot interaction, explains that people can form stronger connections with robots when they display human-like imperfections. He compares the phenomenon to how people may relate more closely to a public figure who demonstrates an ordinary weakness, noting, “You connect with them more because this person’s very powerful in politics, but they’re willing to show that they’re like us in other ways.”
The article highlights the “pratfall effect,” suggesting that robots’ mistakes and awkward behavior may help ease public anxiety about emerging technologies and encourage people to anthropomorphize them.
Morewedge also notes that publicly showcasing robot failures can serve as a form of reassurance: “Doing this in a very public way is certainly targeting an audience with a message of reassurance.”
The story underscores how seemingly humorous robot mishaps may play an unexpected role in shaping public perceptions and building trust in humanoid technology.
