Welcome, Robot Bosses

From Phys.org: A study suggesting that humans may be willing to take orders from robot bosses:

In studying the video, the researchers found that 46 percent of the volunteers (both male and female) complied with a request to perform a task (which took 80 minutes) they didn’t want to do, when asked to do so by the robot, compared to 86 percent compliance when asked by a human “boss.” The researchers note the lower percentage but also point out that nearly half of those who participated complied when asked to do something they didn’t want to do, when asked by a robot.

I just tried to imagine myself in a theoretical situation in which a robot boss ordered me to do things I didn’t particularly want to do, and you know what? I listened to the robot boss. Because sometimes you do things you don’t want to do for a human boss, and you do it because it’s part of your job and you need the paycheck.

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