August 17, 2026

We were pleased to welcome Professor Su-Ling Yeh from National Taiwan University for a research seminar.

The title of the lecture was "Beyond Engagement: The Missing Half of Psychology in AI Interaction Design.”

In her lecture, Professor Yeh discussed the role of psychology in AI and robot interaction design, drawing on recent research findings on understanding human states through objective measures such as gaze, physiological responses, and behavioral signals, as well as approaches to interaction design that go beyond simply maximizing user engagement.

She also explored the importance of distinguishing cooperation from mere compliance in human-AI and human-robot interactions, as well as the potential role of an appropriate degree of social friction in building trust. Drawing on research in psychology and human-robot interaction, she provided valuable insights into how these perspectives can inform the design of future interactions between humans and intelligent systems.

The lecture was followed by an active Q&A session and exchange of ideas with HRI-JP researchers, providing a valuable opportunity to share insights across disciplines on human-centered AI and robot interaction design.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Professor Su-Ling Yeh for her insightful lecture and valuable perspectives.