Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Tetsuya Matsui investigates the intersection of human-agent interaction (HAI) and human-robot interaction (HRI), with a central focus on how the appearance of virtual agents and robots shapes human perception, trust, and responsibility attribution. His work reveals that a robot’s physical design—whether mechanical or smooth-faced—directly influences perceived trustworthiness and emotional richness, a finding with implications for emotional labor roles. Matsui has also pioneered research on virtual teachers (VTs), demonstrating that a VT’s appearance should align with the subject being taught, and that animal-like features, such as cat ears, can enhance engagement in environmental education. His studies on emotional contagion show that virtual agents can effectively transmit emotions to users, improving product recommendation experiences. Notably, Matsui explores the intriguing link between users’ trust in robots and their belief in paranormal entities, suggesting that individuals who attribute agency to robots may be more trusting. With over 50 citations across his most-cited papers, including work published in 2024, Matsui’s research offers practical design guidelines for creating more effective, trusted, and emotionally resonant virtual and robotic agents in education, collaboration, and service contexts.