The number of people using messaging apps is set to hit two billion by 2018, so it’s no wonder brands want to get in on the action. Major tech players are touting chatbots as the next big thing, but can they really revolutionise online interactions, or are they just part of an industry-driven pipe dream?

Amazon Echo has been released in Britain, and the company has tweaked its product to ensure it is well suited to UK consumers. Its voice assistant Alexa has travelled across the pond and picked up a new British accent, catering to our high expectations for technology to be more human.

Toyota has created a pint-sized robot that will chat with its owners and gradually learn about them, mimicking the organic progression of real human relationships. The Kirobo Mini is pushing people to rethink the value of robotics, shifting from objective functions to social companionship.

As our lives become more automated, the consumer robotics industry is only set to grow. But something is holding the market back – people find it difficult to trust these machines, especially in their homes and offices. Why do they make us uneasy, and what will convince people to trust robots?