Acceptance of cybernetic avatars for capability enhancement: a large-scale survey

TL;DR

This large-scale survey examines societal acceptance of cybernetic avatars across various enhancement domains, revealing high approval for communication and learning, but lower support for immortality, informing responsible design and integration.

Contribution

It provides empirical data on public attitudes towards cybernetic avatars for capability enhancement across multiple domains, guiding future development and societal integration.

Findings

High acceptance for multilingual communication (77.5%) and learning (68.7%)

Moderate support for mobility assistance (64.5%) and behavioral change (59.5%)

Low support for immortality via consciousness transfer (34.9%)

Abstract

Avatar embodiment experiences have the potential to enhance human capabilities by extending human senses, body, and mind. This study investigates social acceptance of robotic and virtual avatars as enablers of capability enhancement in six domains: identity exploration, well-being and behavioral transformation, expanded travel capabilities, expanded bodily and sensory abilities, cognitive augmentation, and immortality. We conducted a large-scale survey (n = 1001) in Dubai to explore acceptance of sixteen capability enhancement scenarios within these domains. The highest levels of agreement were observed for multilingual communication (77.5%) and learning capabilities (68.7%), followed by assisting individuals with reduced mobility (64.5%) and behavioral transformation (59.5%). Scenarios involving immortality through consciousness transfer received the least support (34.9%). These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of public attitudes toward avatar-based human enhancement and offer practical guidance for the responsible design, development, and integration of cybernetic avatars in the society, ensuring their societal acceptance and fostering a harmonious human-avatar coexistence.