Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Alberto Greco is an Italian cognitive scientist and AI researcher whose work bridges artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, and human-computer interaction. His research spans two compelling domains: the theoretical foundations of symbol grounding in neural and connectionist systems, and the practical application of robotic and agent-based technologies to support elderly populations with cognitive impairments. Greco's most influential contribution, "From Robotic Toil to Symbolic Theft" (2000), has garnered 131 citations and represents a landmark exploration of how symbolic representations can be meaningfully connected to sensory experience. By applying neural network models of categorical perception to the symbol grounding problem, he demonstrated how higher-level symbolic categories could inherit meaning from lower-level, perceptually grounded representations — a significant advance in understanding how artificial systems might acquire genuinely meaningful concepts. This work was further extended in his 2003 connectionist model examining category acquisition through grounded symbols. Beyond theoretical AI, Greco's 2009 study on elder-robot interaction demonstrates his commitment to socially relevant applications, investigating how cognitively impaired older adults respond to animaloid robotic companions. With 44 citations, this work has meaningfully influenced research on assistive technologies and human-robot interaction for vulnerable populations, reflecting a career dedicated to making cognitive science practically transformative.