Humanoid Robots: Useful Tools or an Illusion?

Abstract

Dementia encompasses a group of disorders that have a profound social and healthcare impact, requiring a well-coordinated network of health and social care services. It remains one of the leading causes of disability among older adults worldwide. The management of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is one of the greatest challenges facing contemporary healthcare systems. Against the backdrop of a chronic shortage of healthcare professionals, socially assistive robots (SARs) with human-like features have emerged as a promising technological solution for providing emotional support and cognitive stimulation. Among these, Pepper—a 120-cm-tall humanoid robot equipped with a chest-mounted tablet and wheeled mobility—has become one of the most widely adopted platforms for interpersonal interaction in memory care settings. Capable of recognizing facial expressions and adapting its behaviour accordingly, Pepper is increasingly used to deliver cognitive exercises, administer screening tools such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and help reduce patient anxiety. Nevertheless, introducing anthropomorphic machines into highly vulnerable settings such as residential dementia care facilities raises urgent ethical and clinical questions: are we truly providing appropriate care for the patient?