New UK findings from Hexagon’s global Robot Generation study show that both adults and children are open to robots at work, but are setting clear terms for where and how they should be used.
Asked whether they would prefer a human or a robot to handle specific workplace tasks, UK adults consistently chose robots for physical, repetitive, and hazardous work. 56% prefer a robot for lifting and transporting heavy items, 38% for carrying and delivering, and 34% for monitoring hazards. UK children follow the same pattern, with greater openness: 64% prefer a robot for heavy lifting, and 55% for carrying and delivering.
But where a task demands empathy or accountability, both groups shift decisively to humans. The widest gap is in caregiving: 79% of UK children and 82% of UK adults want a human to care for the sick, elderly or children. Just 8% and 5%, respectively, would choose a robot, the lowest robot preference for any task tested.
“There’s real potential for robots in areas like elderly care or classrooms, but as assistive devices, not as replacements for that essential human role,” said Dr Jim Everett, Associate Professor in Moral Psychology.
“Ask people if they want to be cared for by a robot, and most say no,” added Dr Blay Whitby, Technology Ethicist. “Ask if technology should help them remain independent in their own home for longer, and most say yes. It’s the same technology, just framed differently.”
The robot assistant era
When it comes to what people would actually want from a robot, the Hexagon study found the answer for both groups – adults and children – is practical help. UK adults prioritise tasks such as capturing measurements or doing simple research (47%), ensuring workplace safety (28%), and managing admin (27%). UK children want assistants that help them understand school lessons (60%) and generate ideas (51%). But the two groups diverge on how far they would take the relationship.
Only 12% of UK adults think robots should be considered full colleagues, and just 9% would want them in charge, while UK children are nearly twice as likely to view robots as full colleagues, pointing to a generational shift already underway. However, the UK mood is more cautious. Just 28% of UK adults say a robot colleague would be exciting, while 46% say it would be frightening, echoing the curious-but-cautious response captured in the first wave of the study.
Industry: the safe testing ground for robotics
The environment where robots perform these practical tasks also matters. The Hexagon study found that UK adults are most comfortable with robots helping in factories and warehouses (53%), well ahead of hospitals and clinics (34%), or classrooms (30%). UK exposure remains the lowest of any market surveyed: just 30% of UK adults have encountered robots in real life, and only 32% would be comfortable with one in the home. By contrast, in China, where 75% of adults have encountered robots in real life, 63% would be comfortable with a robot in the home. As the first wave of the study found, anxiety is highest where robots are least visible.
Preference also tilts toward machine-like robots (27%) over human-like (14%), suggesting that trust is built through function, not appearance. Yet adoption remains conditional: 88% of UK adults say clear rules for what robots can and can’t do are essential. Furthermore, concerns around security (53%), trust (34%), and reliability (25%) underline that governance must keep pace with deployment.
“People are telling us exactly where robots belong and where they don’t, and their instincts are remarkably consistent across markets,” said Burkhard Boeckem, CTO at Hexagon. “Industrial environments are where the tasks for robots are the most defined, the safety cases are mature, and governance is in public view. That is where people feel most comfortable working alongside humanoids, and it’s precisely where our technologies already operate. This data confirms that the path to adoption runs through industry, not around it.”
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