Researchers tested how people reacted when robots messed up a given task. They had participants work with three different versions (A, B and C) of the same robot, BERT2. Each would bring the Humans ingredients to make an omelet: BERT A never erred, but BERT B and C both dropped an egg at some point.*
Only BERT C could communicate with the Humans and say "I'm sorry." It would also be visibly dismayed at the mistake, with an exaggerated look of sadness displayed on its face. BERT C would then show that it was going to try a different approach to the task, thereby rectifying the mistake.* Read more...