Towards AI-based intercultural trainings using Social Robots: derivation of design criteria for effective intercultural human-robot interactions

Abstract

[EN] The development of “ABCD” technology (Artificial intelligence, Blockchain, Cloud computing, and Big data) has promoted the design and development of new and innovative technologies, which fundamentally revolutionized the ways organizations manage themselves. However, digital transformations have also brought in new challenges. Against the backdrop of growing internationalization, cross-border collaborations, and increasing global trade, it is of utmost importance to explore how technology renovates the intercultural dialogues, negotiations, trainings, and the subsequent knowledge transfer processes. Researchers have suggested that technology will play a vital role in facilitating the need to work with people from all around the world. And from the perspective of intercultural exchanges, and cross-border/cross-cultural collaborations, it is necessary to know how to navigate the intercultural challenges effectively. The emergence of Social Robots like the Furhat allows to design rich human-robot interactions including verbal- and non-verbal communication elements, which is promising to deliver artificial intelligence (AI) -based intercultural training capabilities. This research project has two objectives: first, this research will bring in the AI factor in human landscape to explore the actions and interactions of AI and intercultural environment in transition; second, this study aims to provide orientations and recommendations for implementing interactions with social robots to enable AI-based intercultural trainings. Therefore, design criteria for implementing effective verbal and non-verbal interactions are outlined for achieving high standards of intercultural interactions to provide better understanding and interpretations of the contexts in which certain intercultural actions are practiced.