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Furhat (robot)

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Furhat
ManufacturerFurhat Robotics
CountrySweden
Year of creation2014
TypeSocial robot

Furhat is a back-projected humanoid social robot developed by the Swedish company Furhat Robotics. It is used to facilitate face-to-face interaction between humans and AI by employing a combination of projection technology, speech capabilities, and simulated social behaviors to mimic lifelike conversations. It has been deployed in sectors including education, healthcare, recruitment, and transport, and has been used in studies of social robotics at several universities.[1]

Design and features

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Furhat consists of a 3D-printed humanoid bust with a translucent mask.[2] Facial expressions are back-projected onto this mask, allowing for the robot to change personas and emotional expressions without mechanical actuators.[3] Apart from communicating through facial expressions, head movements and eye gaze, the robot can raise its eyebrows for added emphasis during conversation.[4] And because it is equipped with computer vision for face tracking, Furhat can analyze the expressions of and interact with as many as 10 people at the same time.[4]

The robot has a human-like neck design, which means that it can mimic human head movement from side to side and up and down.[5] Furhat includes a 135-degree field-of-view camera and steoreo microphones and a speaker.[5] These features can detect user gaze, speech, and proximity, supporting turn-taking and multimodal awareness.[6]

Its software platform supports speech recognition and synthesis in over 30 languages,[7] and developers can build conversational flows using a no-code or SDK interface (see below).[8]

Furhat’s design has been the subject of research into socially intelligent robots, particularly in terms of its adaptability and ability to simulate eye contact, emotional responses, and group engagement.[9] More recent studies have explored design adaptation for personalization that might support Furhat's use and efficiency in educational and service contexts.[10]

Software and integration

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Furhat is used for prototype and application development, researchers and developers are able to update Furhat’s code to test out verbal and non-verbal features.[4] Furhat robot operates using a modular software platform supported by an official Software Development Kit (SDK) and developer tools provided by Furhat Robotics.[8][11] Developers can build applications using a domain-specific language based on Kotlin, with built-in support for dialogue flows, intent recognition, and multimodal interaction.[12] The SDK includes a simulator that mirrors the robot’s behavior and facial animations, allowing for local testing before deployment.[13] Furhat also provides a Remote API compatible with Python, C#, and JavaScript, enabling control of the robot from external systems over a network.[14][13] Applications can be developed using IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA, and integrated with third-party services such as Amazon Polly for speech synthesis and ElevenLabs for voice cloning and lip-sync.[14][15] Furhat can also be integrated with generative AI models such as OpenAI’s GPT-3.5. for creating conversational flows.[6]

Applications

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Furhat featured at Bucharest Tech Week 2019 as an interactive guide for visitors in a multilingual public exhibition setting.[16] It has been used as a museum guide, for concierge services, and in other public engagement contexts.[17] Furhat has also been incorporated in healthcare trials, with applications in autism therapy [18] and mental health assessment.[19]

The most extensive application of the robot has been as a platform for academic research in human-robot interaction. Furhat been used at:

Named deployments

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Several Furhat-based robots have been used in applied settings. Examples include:

  • Tengai – Developed with the Swedish recruitment firm TNG, Tengai is a Furhat-based robot used in structured interview settings to reduce bias. It uses the Furhat platform but has a distinct personality and dialogue model tailored for recruitment.[25][26]
  • SEMMI – A multilingual travel assistant robot installed by Deutsche Bahn at German train stations. It engages with travelers in multiple languages and provides transportation services and travel advice.[27]
  • FRAnny – A localized version of SEMMI deployed at Frankfurt Airport. FRAnny provides personalized assistance and acts as concierge.[28][29]
  • PETRA – A conversational health-screening robot developed by Furhat Robotics, the Merck Group, and the design agency Prototyp. PETRA conducts pre-screening interactions with users to detect signs of diseases such as psoriasis and depression.[30]
  • Basil– A robotic barista employed in an old-age home to study human-robot interaction with older adults.[31]
  • BRILLO – A robotic architecture developed by researchers at the University of Naples that uses the Furhat head in combination with other robotic elements for bar-tending.[32]

Public reception

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Furhat uses facial projection and conversational AI to support more natural and expressive interactions between robots and people.[2][33][34] The robot can maintain eye contact, support multiple languages and display a range of facial expressions.[35]

Furhat has limited mechanical abilities (for example, lack limbs or mobility), and its cost is relatively higher compared to other social robots.[35]

Some commentators note that hyperrealistic features—such as simulated empathy and personalized dialogue—may raise ethical concerns, particularly in emotionally sensitive contexts like hiring and healthcare.[5][33] Studies have linked these reactions to the 'uncanny valley' effect.[36] Opinion is divided about whether Furhat succeeds to evade the "uncanny valley" effect,[3] or whether users find it unsettling to engage with it.[35] These discussions align with wider debates in AI ethics around transparency, overtrust, and anthropomorphism in social robots.[37]

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Furhat has been featured in various media and demonstration settings that lean into popular culture. In one research study, the robot was programmed to display the face of former U.S. President Barack Obama as part of an experiment on non-verbal behavior.[38][5]

Furhat was featured as the central character in Arise Amazons, a feminist theatre production staged at Orionteatern in Stockholm. The performance, directed by Karin Victorin, integrated Furhat as a speaking, emotive robotic head interacting with both performers and audience members. Described as a robot “driven by its desire for a body,” Furhat was presented in a symbolic narrative exploring themes of embodiment, gender, and posthuman identity through live performance involving opera singers, dancers, drag artists, and horses. The production forms the subject of Victorin’s master's thesis on social robotics and feminist technoscience.[39][40]

In 2019, Furhat Robotics partnered with Bandai Namco to develop a Furhat-based version of Mirai Komachi, a Japanese virtual pop idol.[41] The robot was used in amusement parks and entertainment venues in Japan, merging anime aesthetics with social robotics to explore new forms of character embodiment and fan engagement.[41]

Furhat has also been interviewed on The Millennial Way Show[42] and mentioned in an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver that explored the ethical and social implications of AI.[43]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bloomberg. 'Swedish maker of Furhat social robot Acquires Misty Robotics.' https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-17/swedish-maker-of-furhat-social-robot-acquires-misty-robotics?embedded-checkout=true
  2. ^ a b Reuters. 'Furhat, a robot with the human touch, wants to hear your woes.' https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-robotics-idUSKCN1NX0U2
  3. ^ a b Rigg, Jamie (2018). "Furhat is a social robot for every situation – but could we ever really accept it?". Engadget. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  4. ^ a b c Biba, Jacob (May 8, 2024). "What Is a Social Robot?". Built In. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d Thunberg, Sofia; Arnelid, Maria; Ziemke, Tom (December 2022). Older Adults' Perception of the Furhat Robot. HAI '22: International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction. Christchurch, New Zealand: Association for Computing Machinery. doi:10.1145/3527188.3561924. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Cherakara, Neeraj; Varghese, Finny; Shabana, Sheena; Nelson, Nivan; Karukayil, Abhiram; Kulothungan, Rohith; Farhan, Mohammed Afil; Nesset, Birthe; Moujahid, Meriam; Dinkar, Tanvi; Rieser, Verena; Lemon, Oliver (2023). "FurChat: An Embodied Conversational Agent using LLMs, Combining Open and Closed-Domain Dialogue with Facial Expressions". arXiv:2308.15214 [cs.CL].
  7. ^ Tuominen, J. (2021). "Multilingual Speech Interfaces in Robotics". ACM Transactions on HRI. doi:10.1145/3431282.
  8. ^ a b Bahar Irfan, Sanna Kuoppamäki, Aida Hosseini & Gabriel Skantze (10 March 2025). "Between reality and delusion: challenges of applying large language models to companion robots for open-domain dialogues with older adults". Autonomous Robots. **49** (9).(https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10514-025-10190-y). Open access.
  9. ^ Francese, Rita; Ciobanu, Madalina G.; Clemente, Emilio; Tortora, Genoveffa (2025). Design of a Multimodal Robot-Based Conversational Interface: A Case Study with FURHAT. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Vol. 15374. Springer. pp. 299–311. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-76803-3_17. ISBN 978-3-031-76802-6. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  10. ^ Almutoory, Mohammed; Jiang, Xianta (January 2025). "A Human-Robot Interaction in Education: A Systematic Review of Furhat Robots' Role in Student Learning". Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Development Journal. 5 (1): 337–352. doi:10.52098/airdj.20255136.
  11. ^ Schenker, Jennifer (November 17, 2023). "Startup of the Week: Furhat Robotics". The Innovator. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  12. ^ Lekova, A.; Tsvetkova, P.; Mitevska, M.; Medneva, T. (September 2024). Furhat PsychScreen Framework: Streamlining Robot-Assisted Psychological Screening Implementation. IEEE. pp. 1–6. doi:10.23919/SoftCOM62040.2024.10721865. ISBN 978-953-290-138-2. Retrieved 14 April 2025. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  13. ^ a b "Furhat robot basics". Interaction Lab Knowledgebase. University of Twente. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  14. ^ a b Lekova, Anna; Tsvetkova, Paulina; Andreeva, Anna; Simonska, Miglena; Kremenska, Adelina (2024). "System Software Architecture for Advancing Human-Robot Interaction by Cloud Services and Multi-Robot Cooperation". International Journal on Information Technologies & Security. 16 (1). Institute of Information and Communication Technologies: 65–76. doi:10.59035/FMFZ4017.
  15. ^ Skantze, Gabriel; Irfan, Bilge (2025). "Applying General Turn-taking Models to Conversational Human-Robot Interaction". arXiv:2501.08946 [cs.CL].
  16. ^ "Social robot at Bucharest Tech Week". Romania Insider. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  17. ^ a b "The Innovator – Startup of the Week: Furhat Robotics". 17 November 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  18. ^ Aida Amir, Nurziya Oralbayeva, Nurbanu Zhenissova, Zhansaule Telisheva, Aida Zhanatkyzy, Ilyas Issa, Alina Kontorbayeva, Sultan Kuat, Aizhan Yermek, and Anara Sandygulova. "Robot-assisted Social Narratives for Children with Diverse Developmental Conditions: A Pilot Study." In: 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), August 26–30, 2024, Pasadena, California, USA. IEEE, 2024. DOI: [10.1109/RO-MAN60168.2024.10731429](https://doi.org/10.1109/RO-MAN60168.2024.10731429)
  19. ^ Moujahid, A., Jukic, D., & Andreasson, R. (2023). "Assessing stress, anxiety and depression with social robots via conversational AI." EnPress. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371644614_Assessing_stress_anxiety_and_depression_with_social_robots_via_conversational_AI
  20. ^ "Human Conversations with a Robotic Head – TU Graz". Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  21. ^ "First-of-its-kind Robot Receptionist Is Like ChatGPT". Freethink. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  22. ^ Jack, Louise (28 February 2025). "Social robot brings residents together at housing complex". The National Robotarium. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  23. ^ "Centre for Robotics and AI – University of Manchester". Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Furhat – BMS Lab – University of Twente". Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  25. ^ Bewicke, Henry (July 18, 2019). "This robot interviewer is helping Sweden recruit without bias". World Economic Forum. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  26. ^ BBC. 'Meet Tengai, the job interview robot.' https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47442953
  27. ^ "Artificial Intelligence at Deutsche Bahn". Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  28. ^ Frangoul, Anmar (9 April 2019). "Robotic heads powered by A.I. to help passengers at a major German airport". CNBC. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  29. ^ Curley, Robert (12 April 2019). "Frankfurt airport trials talking head AI assistant". Business Traveller. Retrieved 14 April 2025.​:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
  30. ^ "PETRA: The potencial of medical robots". AseBio. 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  31. ^ Barron, Peter (2025-03-27). "Meet Basil, the robot barista, serving up a new era for North East housing provider". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  32. ^ Rossi, Alessandra; Rossi, Silvia; Di Maro, Maria; Origlia, Antonio (13 March 2025). "BRILLO: Personalised HRI with a Bartender Robot". International Journal of Social Robotics. doi:10.1007/s12369-025-01228-3.
  33. ^ a b Hern, Alex. Ghost in the machine: the robot that can understand emotion. The Guardian, 16 April 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2018/apr/16/ghost-in-the-machine-the-robot-that-can-understand-emotion
  34. ^ Bonime, Western. The Human Element Is Key At Furhat Robotics. Forbes, 27 January 2018. https://www.forbes.com/sites/westernbonime/2018/01/27/the-human-element-is-key-at-furhat-robotics
  35. ^ a b c Soffar, Heba (February 10, 2025). "Furhat robot review, advantages and disadvantages, Integration of ChatGPT in Furhat". Science online. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  36. ^ Jarsve, Tora; Malkomsen, Emma R.; Woźniak, Paweł; Niess, Jasmin (October 2024). Exploring User Expectations and Perceived Creepiness in AI: A Study on Furhat and ChatGPT. NordiCHI Adjunct 2024: Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction. doi:10.1145/3677045.3685428.
  37. ^ Lugrin, B., Stricker, D., & van Wissen, A. (2024). Ethnical Anthropomorphism in Human-Robot Interaction: Personalized Robot Tutors. Proceedings of the 2024 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380994262_Ethnical_Anthropomorphism_in_Human-Robot_Interaction_Personalized_Robot_Tutors
  38. ^ Jonell, Patrik; Ekstedt, Erik; Kucherenko, Taras; Beskow, Jonas (August 2019). Learning Non-verbal Behavior for a Social Robot from YouTube Videos. International Conference (details not specified). Stockholm, Sweden: KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  39. ^ Karin Victorin (2020). Practically Human: Performing Social Robots and Feminist Aspects on Agency, Body and Gender. Linköping University. Open access PDF
  40. ^ Ada Fredelius (15 November 2018). "Roboten tar plats vid teatern". Ny Teknik. [1]
  41. ^ a b Dennison, Kara (2019-08-21). "Swedish Robotics Company Teams up with Bandai to Build Anime Girl". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  42. ^ "Interviewing a social robot called Furhat on The Millennial Way Show". YouTube. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  43. ^ "Artificial Intelligence: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)". YouTube. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
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