A new study from AI experts at the University of Oxford and University of Melbourne reveals that men are much more likely to support the idea of being cared for in their homes by a robot when they are infirm or elderly, than women. 

The study, published in the journal Community, Work and Family, assesses people’s attitudes towards having robots caring for oneself, providing services and companionship, when one is infirm or elderly.  The study draws on data from 28 European countries, factoring in local determinants such as GDP, women’s labour force participation rates, and spending on elderly care.   

The lead author, Dr Ekaterina Hertog, Associate Professor at the Oxford Internet Institute & the Institute for Ethics in AI, University of Oxford explains: “In our study we investigate three key questions: Are women more comfortable than men with being cared for by robots in their old age? Are those with greater time pressures and higher opportunity costs more supportive of receiving care from technology? And do macro-level factors inform individual attitudes to robotic care?”  

The researchers find that individuals differ substantially in how comfortable they are with using technology to fulfil their care needs, with local context and personal factors shaping attitudes towards being cared for by robots. 

Key findings of the study: 

• Overall, people are not very enthusiastic about being cared for by robots. 
• European men are more open to adopting robotic technologies for their own care than women when they get infirm or elderly. 
• More educated men and women are more supportive of using robots for their own care. 
• People working in professional, managerial or white-collar jobs are more supportive of using robots for their own care than those in non-professional occupations. 
• Younger people and those with experience of using robots in work or domestic contexts are more open to using them in the future to help with their own care. 
• Those living in local communities with higher levels of female employment and low levels of spending on adult care more likely to accept robots as part of their care package in old age. 

It is also not all about personal characteristics, the researchers find. Their analysis highlights how peoples’ attitudes are informed not only by personal experiences, such as ability to pay, and shortage of time, but also, crucially, by local context, for example, by welfare provision available for older adults.  

“A key finding of ours was that local context really matters,” stresses study co-author Professor Leah Ruppanner, University of Melbourne.   “Those living in communities with higher levels of female employment and lower levels of spending on old age support were generally more comfortable with using robots for elderly care.  Conversely, we find that when governments invest more heavily in elder care, people report (on average) being less comfortable with relying on robots in the home to provide care for the infirm and elderly.”  

“For policymakers, the research flags that they should be aware of “tensions between a desire to meet adult care demands with human or technological labour. Technology should not be an inevitability. Rather, any investment into technological solutions needs to be evaluated against investing in support for paid or unpaid carers,” adds co-author Brendan Churchill, University of Melbourne. 

Looking ahead, the researchers stress the need for policymakers to evaluate the opportunity costs of any adult care technologies against human care provision.  

“When such digital care technologies are adopted, it is crucial we consider how adult care technologies can be integrated in a way that preserves, and ideally amplifies, the ability of human carers to maintain the connection with those they care for,” maintains Professor Hertog. 

“Care technologies will only become more salient as populations age, women’s workforce participation increases and technology advances. The questions we need to ask are how comfortable are individuals with letting AI-powered technologies like robots take care of them? And what might be shaping their preferences?”  

Download the full paper, “Silicon caregivers: A multilevel analysis of European perspectives on robotic technologies for elderly care,” published in Community, Work, and Family.  

Authors: Associate Professor of AI and Society Ekaterina Hertog, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford; Professor Leah Ruppanner, Gender Equity Initiative and School and Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne and Dr Brendan Churchill from the Melbourne University, Gender Equity Initiative and School and Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne. 

Notes for Editors:   

For more information and briefings, please contact: Sara Spinks / Veena McCoole, Media and Communications Manager. T: 01865 280528 E: press@oii.ox.ac.uk 

About the Research 

The study draws on data from the 2017 Eurobarometer for prime working age adults.  The work by was supported by a grant awarded by UK Research and Innovation (grant number ES/T007265/1; PI Ekaterina Hertog) which had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the article.   

About the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) 

The Oxford Internet Institute (OII) is a multidisciplinary research and teaching department of the University of Oxford, dedicated to the social science of the Internet. Drawing from many different disciplines, the OII works to understand how individual and collective behaviour online shapes our social, economic and political world. Since its founding in 2001, research from the OII has had a significant impact on policy debate, formulation and implementation around the globe, as well as a secondary impact on people’s wellbeing, safety and understanding. Drawing on many different disciplines, the OII takes a combined approach to tackling society’s big questions, with the aim of positively shaping the development of the digital world for the public good. https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/ 

About the University of Oxford   

Oxford University has been placed number one in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the ninth year running, and number two in the QS World Rankings 2022. At the heart of this success are the twin-pillars of our ground-breaking research and innovation and our distinctive educational offer. Oxford is world-famous for research and teaching excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe.