Factors influencing intention to use a social robot for supporting childcare: an empirical study among professional workers in Malaysia

A social robot is a hypothetical artificial intelligence system which is designed to interact with humans and with other robots. This study investigates the main factors influencing the intention to use a social robot among professional workers in Malaysia. A total sample of 259 professional workers in Penang, Malaysia participated in this study. A quantitative approach was employed using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, adapted from previous studies. The data was analysed using SPSS. The results indicated all 12 variables correlated significantly (p < 0.01) with the intention to use a social robot, and, with the exception of attitude, privacy concerns, and legal concerns, inter-correlated significantly (p < 0.01). Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that four variables were the most significant contributors to the intention to use, accounting for 74% of the intention to use variance. The results of this study provide useful insights into the variables influencing usage intention of professional.