Public Draws a Line: Robots Welcome in Industry, Not for Human Care

LONDON, UK – June 16, 2026 – The public has spoken on the future of robotics, and the message is one of conditional acceptance. A landmark global study released today by technology leader Hexagon reveals a striking consensus: people are ready to welcome robots into factories and warehouses but draw a firm line when it comes to roles requiring empathy and human connection, particularly in caregiving.

The firm's "Robot Generation" study, which surveyed 18,000 people across nine countries, paints a picture of a society cautiously navigating the rise of automation. While robots are embraced for tasks that are dangerous, repetitive, or physically demanding, their deployment in more socially sensitive environments like hospitals and schools faces significant public resistance. This nuanced perspective underscores that the path to broader robot adoption runs directly through industrial applications, where trust is built on function, safety, and clear governance.

The Industrial Proving Ground

According to the data, the factory floor is where the public feels most comfortable with our new robotic counterparts. A significant 63% of adults are at ease with robots in factories and warehouses, a figure that far surpasses their comfort in hospitals (45%) or classrooms (39%). The reasoning is clear and pragmatic: people want robots to handle the heavy lifting—quite literally.

A substantial 68% of adults prefer a robot to lift and transport heavy items, while 54% would opt for a machine to carry and deliver goods. More than half (52%) also see the value in deploying robots to monitor hazardous environments. These findings provide a strong social license for the acceleration of automation in logistics, manufacturing, and other industrial sectors where robots can enhance human safety and take over strenuous tasks.

"People are telling us exactly where robots belong and where they don't, and their instincts are remarkably consistent across markets," said Burkhard Boeckem, CTO at Hexagon. "Industrial environments are where the tasks for robots are the most defined, the safety cases are mature, and governance is in public view. That is where people feel most comfortable... This data confirms that the path to adoption runs through industry, not around it."

This comfort is closely tied to exposure and familiarity. In China, where 75% of adults report having encountered a robot, comfort with them in the home is a high 63%. In contrast, in the UK, where robot exposure is the lowest surveyed, only 32% of adults feel the same. It appears that seeing is believing; anxiety is highest where robots are least visible, suggesting that the transparent and controlled deployment in industrial settings is key to demystifying the technology for the public.

The Empathy Boundary: A Line Robots Can't Cross

For all the acceptance in industrial roles, the study reveals a profound societal boundary where technology gives way to humanity. The most significant divide is in caregiving. An overwhelming 71% of adults and 67% of children insist that a human should care for the sick, elderly, or young. Only a mere 12% of adults would choose a robot for such a task, the lowest preference for any scenario tested.

This "caregiving gap" highlights a deeply ingrained belief that empathy, compassion, and accountability are exclusively human domains. While a robot can lift a box, the public remains deeply skeptical that it can hold a hand with genuine warmth or make the nuanced, ethical judgments required in care.

Experts caution that this doesn't close the door on technology in these fields, but it reframes its role. "There's real potential for robots in areas like elderly care or classrooms, but as assistive devices, not as replacements for that essential human role," said Dr. Jim Everett, an Associate Professor in Moral Psychology cited in the study.

Technology Ethicist Dr. Blay Whitby added crucial context to this perception. "Ask people if they want to be cared for by a robot, and most say no," he explained. "Ask if technology should help them remain independent in their own home for longer, and most say yes. It's the same technology, just framed differently." This suggests the market opportunity lies in creating tools that empower human caregivers and enhance independence, rather than attempting to replace the human element.

Function Over Form and the Mandate for Governance

Public trust in robots appears to be built on performance, not personality. The study found a notable preference for machine-like robots (28%) over those designed to look human-like (22%). This suggests that people are less interested in androids that mimic human appearance and more focused on functional, reliable tools that perform their tasks effectively. This preference for function over form helps sidestep the psychological unease of the "uncanny valley" and sets clear expectations: this is a machine, not a friend.

This pragmatism is matched by a powerful demand for oversight. A staggering 86% of adults believe that clear rules for what robots can and can't do are essential. This is not a passive acceptance of technology but an active call for robust governance. Public concerns are concrete, with security against hacking topping the list (51%), followed by worries about trust (26%) and reliability (21%). For technology companies and policymakers, the message is clear: deployment cannot outpace governance. Public trust is conditional and must be earned through transparency, safety, and clear accountability.

A Generational Shift in the Making

While adults are cautiously defining the current role of robots, the next generation is already envisioning a more integrated future. The study reveals a significant generational shift, with children being far more open to robots across a variety of settings. Most strikingly, they are 50% more likely than adults to view robots as "full colleagues" at work. While only 21% of adults are comfortable with this idea, the data points to a future workforce that collaborates with robots as partners rather than just tools.

This divergence is also visible in what each group wants from a robot assistant. Adults prioritize practical help with tasks like capturing measurements or managing admin (38%). Children, however, have more collaborative ambitions, wanting robots to help them understand school lessons (60%) and generate new ideas (48%). They see robots not just as laborers, but as cognitive partners.

This generational divide paints a complex picture of our automated future. The current adult population is a mix of excitement (40%) and fear (38%) about robot colleagues, carefully weighing the benefits against the risks. Yet, the children surveyed—today's students and tomorrow's leaders—demonstrate a fundamentally different perspective, one that could dramatically accelerate and reshape the integration of robots into every facet of society.