Ilana Shanks
Papers
3
Total Citations
1,151
H-Index
3
About
Ilana Shanks is a leading voice in the rapidly evolving field of service robotics, with a sharp focus on the psychological and economic dynamics of human-robot interaction. Her groundbreaking research explores how humanoid robots reshape consumer behavior, particularly in high-stakes environments like healthcare. Shanks’ most influential work, “Service Robots Rising” (2019), with over 1,098 citations, reveals that humanoid service robots can trigger compensatory consumer responses, fundamentally altering how people perceive value and status in service encounters. This seminal paper has become a cornerstone for scholars studying the unintended social consequences of automation. In her more recent work, Shanks investigates “cobotic service teams”—collaborations between humans and robots—uncovering power dynamics that can undermine teamwork if not carefully managed. She also advances the field of “robonomics,” providing cost-benefit frameworks to assess the true efficiency of robotic investments. By bridging behavioral science with economic analysis, Shanks offers critical insights for designing robotic systems that enhance, rather than disrupt, human experiences. Her research is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of work, service design, and the ethical deployment of AI in everyday life.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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