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About

Victoria Groom is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), whose work has fundamentally shaped how we understand the social and psychological dimensions of human relationships with robotic systems. Her most influential contribution, "Can robots be teammates?" (2007, 297 citations), boldly challenged prevailing assumptions about robot autonomy and teamwork, sparking critical debate about the conditions under which humans and robots can genuinely collaborate in high-stakes, unpredictable environments. Groom's research spans several interconnected areas: robot social roles, human-robot team dynamics, agent communication strategies, and the psychology of robot ownership. Her experimental work, including the widely cited "I am my robot" study (69 citations), revealed that people develop meaningful psychological bonds with robots — even during simple assembly tasks — suggesting deep implications for how robot design influences user identity and attachment. Her investigations into computational agents' use of politeness strategies when disagreeing with users ("I'm sorry, Dave," 64 citations) further demonstrate her interest in designing socially intelligent machines. With research addressing blame attribution, social role framing, and voice interaction toolkits, Groom's cumulative body of work offers both theoretical frameworks and practical tools that continue to inform the design of robots intended to serve as genuine social partners.