Psychological research has suggested that trash talk from robots can significantly worsen gamers' performance. As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, understanding its influence on people’s psychological state will likely be increasingly important to tech brands.

Mayfield Robotics’ Kuri is a friendly robot that can patrol one’s abode, play music, and capture priceless moments without taking families out of them. But can this adorable automaton win over the hearts of a population that is still apprehensive about the idea of smart machines in their homes?

While parents worry about the disadvantages of their kids getting too much screen time, researchers believe they should be taught what lies behind the black box of AI. Canvas8 spoke to expert Stefania Druga about her work, which involves demystifying machine learning for the next generation.

How will robotic companions provide physical and emotional support? Could hands-free devices replace smartphones? And what are people doing to manage digital overload? In this part of the 2020 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about how innovation and distrust are shaping tech usage.