In the early 2000s, the robotics landscape was largely defined by industrial efficiency and physical assistance. Maja Matarić, a professor at the University of Southern California, envisioned a different trajectory: machines that could heal through presence rather than just performance. In 2005, Matarić helped define "socially assistive robotics," a discipline focused on providing personalized therapy and care through social interaction—using conversation, play, and emotional mirroring to aid recovery and development.
Matarić’s work occupies a rare intersection of computer science, neuroscience, and pediatrics. Unlike traditional assistive robots designed to help a patient move or dress, her machines are engineered to engage the mind. Currently, she is exploring how these social agents can assist students struggling with anxiety and depression through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). By helping users identify and reframe negative thought patterns, these robots serve as consistent, non-judgmental supplements to human care.
Recently, Matarić was awarded the 2025 Robotics Medal from MassRobotics, a Boston-based nonprofit recognizing female researchers who have fundamentally advanced the field. The honor reflects a career spent building a community around a once-speculative idea. For Matarić, the recognition from her peers underscores the maturation of social robotics from a niche academic pursuit into a critical tool for modern mental health.
With reporting from IEEE Spectrum.
Source · IEEE Spectrum
