As our lives become more automated, the consumer robotics industry is only set to grow. But something is holding the market back – people find it difficult to trust these machines, especially in their homes and offices. Why do they make us uneasy, and what will convince people to trust robots?

With 60% of Americans using the voice-activated concierge service on their smartphone every day, people are growing accustomed to the idea of interacting with a virtual assistant. Tapping into the trend, Amazon has launched a smart speaker that acts like a home assistant.

In Japan, virtual assistants don’t have to be prudish à la Siri. Hikari Azuma is a miniskirt-clad anime hologram that has no qualms about flirting with her users. Robots have long been considered friends in Japanese culture, but Hikari is taking that relationship to the next level.

Toyota has created a pint-sized robot that will chat with its owners and gradually learn about them, mimicking the organic progression of real human relationships. The Kirobo Mini is pushing people to rethink the value of robotics, shifting from objective functions to social companionship.