Mihaela Constantinescu

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About

Mihaela Constantinescu is a leading voice in the ethics of emerging technologies, with a primary focus on the moral implications of social robotics and artificial intelligence. Her work critically examines the intersection of virtue ethics and human-robot interaction, asking whether AI systems can be considered moral agents or virtuous entities. Constantinescu’s most cited paper, “Can Robotic AI Systems Be Virtuous and Why Does This Matter?” (2022, 41 citations), challenges the field to reconsider the moral status of machines, arguing that while robots may not possess genuine virtue, the perception of their moral agency has profound implications for human society. She extends this inquiry into child-robot relationships, exploring how Aristotelian virtue development might be affected by robotic companionship. Her recent work on “Robo-Education and the Pedagogical Divide” (2023) addresses the urgent need to rethink educational equity in the wake of pandemic-era online learning, proposing that social robots could help bridge gaps in access to skilled teachers—but only if deployed with careful ethical oversight. Constantinescu’s research is notable for its balanced, moderate stance, avoiding both techno-utopianism and alarmism, and for its practical relevance to policymakers and educators. With a growing citation footprint, she is establishing herself as a key thinker in the ethics of human-robot interaction, particularly concerning vulnerable populations like children.