This is Scientific Americans, 60-Second Science.

I'm Karen Hawking.

Robots can do a lot of things.

They can build cars, stock grocery shelves, process COVID tests in an automated laboratory,

but can a robot change your mind?

Well, that depends.

Because a new study shows that robots are more persuasive when they're presented as

a peer, as opposed to an authority figure.

The findings appear in the journal, Science Robotics.

Every year we're seeing more and more robots in greater numbers of tasks and environments

around our world.

Shane Saunderson, a roboticist at the University of Toronto.

And instead of just 20, 30, 40 years ago when they were in manufacturing environments,

building cars or painting things or stuff like that, more and more we're starting to see

them in very social contexts.

So in retail environments, in care homes, in schools and things like that.

So robots don't have the luxury of just being functional anymore.

To engage with the humans, they also have to be relatable.

For example, imagine a robot helping out in a care facility, delivering a meal or dropping

off meds.

You'd often see residents that would refuse to eat their meal or they wouldn't want

to take their medication that day.

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