#Robots

A new study from an international team of researchers has uncovered a simple yet powerful eye contact trick that can instantly make someone appear more trustworthy. Published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the findings suggest that it’s not just making eye contact that matters—it’s how and when you glance, lock eyes, and redirect your gaze that truly communicates intent and trustworthiness to others. This discovery holds implications for everything from everyday social encounters to the design of robots interacting with humans, raising questions about how such non-verbal cues are interpreted across different cultures, including Thailand.

Recent findings suggest a specific eye-contact sequence can make an agent appear more trustworthy. Research published in Royal Society Open Science shows that not only eye contact but the timing and direction of gaze convey intent. The results have implications for everyday conversations, classrooms, and human–robot design, with meaningful considerations for Thai social norms.

The study followed 137 participants across several countries and was led by a researcher from a prominent university. It examined a gaze sequence called “Intervene-Same”: look at an object, make brief eye contact, then return to the object. When both humans and robots used this pattern, about 96% of participants believed the agent intended something from them, compared with 41% when eye contact came before looking at the object, and 27% when there was no eye contact. Participants watched human-like avatars and the iCub robot perform different gaze patterns at a virtual table with colored blocks, judging whether the agent wanted a block or was simply scanning.