The Thinking Robot inspires practical wisdom in Humans

A new study investigates the role of a robot’s inner speech in enhancing human phronesis, the ability to make ethically sound decisions, particularly when caring for individuals with special needs. This research marks a significant step toward the development of Artificial Phronesis.
Published in Computational Sciences
The Thinking Robot inspires practical wisdom in Humans
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Phronesis guides us to ethical choices in everyday life

Phronesis is a Greek term often translated as "practical wisdom" or "practical intelligence." It comes from Aristotle's ethical philosophy and refers to the ability to make good judgments and decisions in real-life situations, taking into account the context and aiming for the overall well-being. Phronesis is a complex human skill that relies on personal experiences, individual traits, and a deep understanding of one's own moral values. It allows people to make ethical and context-appropriate choices that go beyond mere knowledge or technical skills, especially when those decisions impact others' well-being.

So, can artificial intelligence help us exercise our phronesis better? And can we even talk about artificial prhonesis or wisdom?

What is artificial phronesis?

Artificial Phronesis refers to research aimed at replicating practical wisdom in artificial systems. It goes beyond traditional AI by focusing on moral and practical decision-making abilities, allowing machines to make choices that are not only logical but also ethically and socially informed. This approach transforms robots from simple task-oriented tools into companions that enhance and stimulate human judgment.

Why artificial phronesis?

It's important to highlight that certain aspects of practical wisdom, or phronesis, remain deeply human. While robots and other artificial systems are powerful in many areas, they lack the depth of human intuition, empathy, and ethical reasoning that shape wise decision-making. For example, robots may not be able to assess complex situations that require responsible, morally guided choices, such as deciding how to minimize harm in an accident involving autonomous vehicles or providing sensitive care to patients. 

Although there have been efforts to instill ethical behavior to artificial agents, these attempts are often considered insufficient.  One possible way forward is to use artificial systems to assist humans in making moral and ethical decisions. By offering recommendations and evaluating moral factors, these systems could encourage moral reflection and raise awareness about ethical, caring behavior for those in need.

This view challenges traditional prospect of technology’s role, suggesting that, beyond mere functionality, robots might engage in a form of intellectual partnership, fostering reflection and ethical reasoning.

The role of inner speech in artificial phronesis

Inner speech refers to the internal dialogue or self-talk that individuals experience within their minds. It is the process of silently "talking" to oneself, often used for thinking, planning, reflection. For example, when faced with a difficult decision, a person might silently think through the pros and cons: "If I do this, it might work out, but what if it goes wrong? I should consider the possible consequences...".  Researchers have explored how these principles might apply to artificial systems, developing the first robot that thinks aloud. A thinking robot can be designed to engage in inner speech, simulating a form of internal dialogue about the situation in which it is immersed. It was demonstrated that a robot functioning with inner dialogue improves many aspects of interaction with a human partner, when they collaborate for reaching a common goal.


In particular, the robot, by revealing its decision processes and the motivations of its behaviour, becomes transparent, and the collaborator becomes able to trace these processes and to reproduce them. Moreover, the robot is able to evaluate alternatives in solving the task, and by explaining such alternatives to the partner, they reach the goal more time than the case
the robot does not evaluate by inner speech the different possibility of solutions.
The robot’s inner speech makes the robot more reliable, and people tend to trust the robot more because the robot is no longer a “black box".

The greater the trust humans placed in the thinking robot raises the inquiry: can a thinking robot contribute to the development of practical wisdom in the human who interacts with it? 

Preliminary results are promising, highlighting the potential of thinking robots to assist in making ethical decisions.

The research

A group of participants was involved in a virtual game, where they had to care for a suffering person alongside a robot. The game simulated an important lunch in a nursing home, and the goal was to set up a table for the receptions in collaboration with the robot. Among the diners there was a resident suffering of Alzheimer. The participant had to prepare the table for this resident, while the robot prepared for another diners without special needs.

The participants were divided in two different groups, either the experimental group and control group. Participants in the experimental group interacted with the thinking robot, whereas participants in the control group interacted with the robot functioning in traditional way. After the interaction, both groups of participants were requested to complete a questionnaire in order to detect differences between experimental and control groups.

Video of experiments

The participants'decisions, in terms of task resolution and ethical considerations, allowed to assess if the robot’s inner speech increased participants’ awareness of the suffering person’s needs.  

Results and Observations

The analysis of the questionnaires revealed that the robot’s internal dialogue effectively stimulated phronesis in participants, even those with no prior experience or skills related to caregiving. By engaging with the robot’s reasoning, users demonstrated a greater awareness of appropriate choices when preparing the table and showed increased empathy toward the patient’s needs. These results suggest that robotic dialogue can not only improve decision-making but also encourage empathetic responses in human interactions, especially in caregiving contexts for individuals with cognitive impairments like dementia.

The study highlights the significant role of the robot’s inner speech in these outcomes. It encouraged participants to reflect on different perspectives and their decision-making processes. Listening to the robot’s reasoning seemed to enhance users' sensitivity to the nuanced considerations involved in caregiving, fostering a deeper understanding of the right actions to take. Furthermore, the robot’s simulated thoughts appeared to humanize the caregiving experience, evoking empathy for the patient and strengthening the connection to their challenges.

Interacting with the robot also created a safe, non-judgmental space where participants felt free to express their thoughts and concerns, promoting a more reflective and compassionate approach to caregiving.

This combination of cognitive engagement, perspective-taking, and emotional connection facilitated by the robot underscores its potential as a valuable tool for improving caregiving practices.

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