When robots join humans in their everyday lives
Software based AI has quickly entered our lives and embodied AI is not far behind. The adoption of AI robotics will happen based on the political and economic incentives behind their value. Manufacturing is scaling upwards and more units are deployed every year for industrial, retail and domestic use. "It is my goal to bring the conversations to the public so that we can all have a say in the adaptations to law, policy reform and infrastructure that will be necessary for safe and mutually beneficial adoption", says Emily Genatowski, who currently is a PhD Candidate in Digital Humanities.
Friction across our legal landscape
"I have turned my life and my home into an immersive experiment to both experience and propose solutions to the problems of the future, today. My research reveals friction across our legal landscape, institutional policies and physical infrastructure when robots join humans in their everyday lives”, explains Genatowski: “I look at everything from practical questions on how we can best regulate registration, identification, insurance, and urban transport of robotics to more cultural questions like how do household pets and neighbors react to domestic robots moving in."
Pint of Science Festival 18 to 20 May 2026
- Pint of Science is an international science festival which brings researchers straight to the local pub to share their latest findings! On May 20 Emily Kate Genatowski speaks about "Robot rights".
- Pint of Science Festival Austria 18 to 20 May 2026
Emily Genatowski has integrated the robot into her home, routines and social life in order to feel the qualitative effects of its immersion. "Then, I synthesize and analyse the findings and identify the regulatory measures that are in need of updates. For example, I recently formulated a Cross-Sector Infrastructural Readiness Survey, the findings of which will be the foundation of a strategic roadmap for the lowest disruption and highest impact adjustments to existing digital and physical infrastructure facilitating robotic adoption."
The reach of this technology and the curiosity it inspires in people is my favorite aspect!Emily Genatowski
There is a breadth of fields who are seeking to understand embodied AI. "Everyone seems to have an awareness that this technology will impact their work and a curiosity of how. I have worked with insurers to advise on liability of autonomous robotics, banks to discuss authorization methods for robot assisted purchases and law firms to explain how data compliance and safety regulations actually impact product use in different markets. The reach of this technology and the curiosity it inspires in people is my favorite aspect!"
Urgent need for the EU to formulate regulations
This rapid progress of innovation also needs regulations in order to act responsible and safely. Emily Genatowski recently wrote an article titled An Interoperable Global Digital ID for AI Humanoid Robotics. "In this work, I explain the urgent need for the EU to formulate regulations surrounding humanoid robotic identification methods, the steps China has taken already, the history and origin of global identity frameworks after WWI and potential solutions including the expansion of our current digital infrastructure to include humanoid robotic IDs in our digital wallets. It is my belief that this is the first step that must be taken in order to facilitate the responsibility ecosystem that will help us safely adopt humanoid robotics. It will provide a legally legible mechanism for us to create registries, safety certifications, maintenance logs, insurance policies and more!"