“Azatoi” Smiles' Influence on Human-Avatar Interactions

As robots evolve, relying solely on “cuteness” based on baby-like appearance is no longer sufficient to elicit positive human responses. This research highlights “Azatoi,” an intentional and self-aware form of cuteness, as a key factor in promoting interpersonal interactions. Experiments were conducted with an avatar exhibiting” Azatoi” expressions, using the Ultimatum Game and impression assessment. The results reveal that the avatar with the “Azatoi“ smile elicited a stronger impression of intentionality, and its attractiveness increased only for female avatars. However, no significant differences in proposal acceptance rates were found in the Ultimatum Game based on the type of smile. This suggests that the situations in which the “Azatoi“ smile can be effectively used may be limited. Future research will focus on measuring the effects of“ Azatoi“ avatars in more socially relevant contexts.