Researchers at Tampere University and University of Bremen have found that the presence of eyes significantly influences how people perceive the minds of humanoid robots. The study examined how specific facial features affect “mind perception,” a concept describing the human tendency to attribute consciousness, emotions and cognitive abilities to other beings or objects.
Mind perception is commonly divided into two components: agency and experience. Agency refers to capacities such as reasoning, self-control and evaluating the consequences of actions, while experience relates to the ability to feel emotions. Previous research has shown that humans readily attribute such qualities to a range of entities, including technological devices, though not all humanoid robots are designed with facial features resembling eyes.
To investigate the role of eyes in shaping perceptions, the researchers used artificial intelligence to generate a large set of realistic humanoid robot images. Each robot was created in two versions, one with eyes and one without. These images were presented to participants in two separate experiments.
Across variations in age appearance, including both childlike and adult-looking robots, and regardless of whether the eyes were displayed on a facial screen or embedded within the robot’s structure, participants consistently rated robots with eyes as possessing greater agency and experience than those without. The findings suggest that the presence of eyes alone can influence judgments about a robot’s mental capacities.
According to Professor Jari Hietanen of Tampere University, who led the study, the effect was also observed in an experiment that did not rely on participants’ conscious self-assessments. This indicates that eyes may increase perceptions of mind at an early, preconscious stage of information processing.
“This study demonstrates that eyes are far more than an aesthetic detail – they can shape how people perceive the social and moral status of robots. This is significant, because the perception of a mind influences empathy, willingness to cooperate and even how people treat technology ethically. These findings have direct implications for the design of humanoid robots,” Hietanen said.
