Sota Kobuki

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About

Sota Kobuki is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and gerontechnology, with a primary focus on developing socially assistive robots for aging populations. His work addresses Japan’s pressing societal challenges—rising cognitive decline rates and caregiver shortages—by exploring how embodied AI agents can provide meaningful social support. Kobuki’s most cited study, "Robotic Backchanneling in Online Conversation Facilitation: A Cross-Generational Study" (2023), investigates how robots can use subtle verbal and non-verbal cues to facilitate natural conversations, particularly for older adults. This work has garnered attention for its innovative approach to making human-robot interaction more intuitive and socially effective. By demonstrating that robotic backchanneling can enhance engagement across generations, Kobuki has laid groundwork for deploying socially intelligent agents in caregiving contexts. His research bridges robotics, cognitive science, and gerontology, offering scalable solutions to support cognitive health and social connection in aging societies. With growing citation impact, Kobuki’s contributions are shaping the future of assistive robotics, making him a key voice in the quest to integrate AI companions into elder care.