So what does this all mean?

Kids don’t just trust robots — they form social bonds with them. As tech companies design robots for education, therapy, and home use, they’re not just building tools — they’re shaping kids’ companions ... and future generations’ brains 🧠

Robots weren’t just trusted for knowledge. Kids wanted them as friends, teachers, even secret-keepers. Trust in robots was strongest in younger kids, but even older ones showed bias toward robots.

And when the robot made mistakes, kids still liked it more than the human. They believed the robot didn’t mean to mess up. They said humans make mistakes “on purpose,” but robots don’t...

Children ages 3–6 watched a robot and a human label familiar and unfamiliar objects. When a robot and a human both give the right answer, kids STILL prefer to ask the robot questions...