Principle 01
Human safety comes first
Human safety, dignity, and bodily integrity must remain the first condition of human–robot coexistence.
Reference framework
Human-Robot Coexistence Guidelines
Non-binding reference principles for responsible coexistence between humans, robots, and intelligent machines.
These guidelines provide a non-binding reference framework for thinking about safety, responsibility, dignity, labor, and shared social space as robots become more present in human environments.
Purpose
A shared framework for coexistence
The Human-Robot Coexistence Guidelines are an Institute initiative that synthesizes work on Robot Rights, Robot Governance, and Robot Labor into public principles for everyday, institutional, and workplace coexistence.
Their role is to provide a clear, accessible point of reference for discussion, research, and future development across multiple social contexts.
They are non-binding, research-oriented reference materials. They do not constitute law, an official technical or safety standard, a certification requirement, or an approval for any particular deployment.
Core principles
Ten principles for human–robot coexistence
These principles focus on human safety, visible robot roles, traceable responsibility, public-space accountability, worker voice, and ongoing review.
Principle 02
Robot roles should be visible and understandable
People should be able to understand what role a robot plays, what it is allowed to do, and who is responsible for its presence.
Principle 03
Responsibility must remain traceable
No robotic system should be deployed in a way that makes responsibility disappear.
Principle 04
Human override and review should be available
Where robotic systems affect people’s movement, work, care, safety, or access to services, human override or review should be available.
Principle 05
Human needs should not be subordinated to machine pace
Robotic systems should be designed and operated so that people retain reasonable time, rest, discretion, and the ability to pause or seek assistance rather than being forced to conform entirely to machine pace.
Principle 06
Workers should have a voice in robotic deployment
Workers should have a meaningful voice in how robotic systems are introduced, evaluated, adjusted, and governed.
Principle 07
Public-space deployment should be understandable and accountable
Technical safety is necessary but not sufficient in public or shared spaces. People should be able to understand a robot’s role, who oversees it, and how concerns or harmful effects can be reviewed.
Principle 08
Data and observation boundaries should be clear
People should know when robotic systems observe, record, classify, or transmit information about them.
Principle 09
Some contexts require additional safeguards
Where robotic systems are used around children, older adults, patients, or people with disabilities, designers and operators should consider heightened safeguards, transparency, accessibility, and accountability appropriate to the context.
Principle 10
Coexistence should be continuously reviewed
Human–robot coexistence should be reviewed over time as technologies, environments, risks, and social expectations change.
Application contexts
Where the guidelines may apply
Human–robot coexistence is not limited to one industry. The same principles may become relevant wherever robots enter shared human environments.
Workplaces
Factories, warehouses, offices, service sites, and other environments where robots reshape work and supervision.
Public spaces
Stations, streets, airports, stores, hotels, and other shared spaces where robots affect movement and trust.
Care and health
Hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation settings, and care environments involving dependency and heightened responsibility.
Education
Schools, learning centers, and training contexts where robotic systems interact with children and learners.
Homes
Domestic settings where robots enter intimate, private, and everyday spaces.
Service environments
Restaurants, reception areas, retail spaces, and facilities where robots perform visible service roles.
Relation to research programs
A synthesis of three research areas
The guidelines draw from the Institute’s three formal research programs while remaining a separate, non-binding public-facing initiative.
Robot Rights
Provides distinctions around identity, recognition, moral consideration, legal status, rights, personhood, and accountability.
Robot Rights researchRobot Governance
Provides the language of responsibility, oversight, public-space accountability, deployment, and institutional design.
Robot Governance researchRobot Labor
Provides concepts for task redistribution, coordination, control, responsibility chains, value capture, risk distribution, and the organization of human work around machine participation.
Robot Labor researchFrom guidelines to public literacy
Educational and public-facing materials
The Human-Robot Coexistence Guidelines provide general principles. Coexistence literacy materials translate these principles into public-facing language for children, users, facility staff, and everyday shared spaces.
View coexistence literacyRelated themes
- Robot interaction etiquette
- Children's robot literacy
- Facility and public-space interaction guidance
Institute initiatives
View related initiatives
The guidelines form part of the Institute’s wider reference work alongside coexistence literacy and related research initiatives.