UK children are more than twice as likely as adults to feel excited about working alongside a robot, according to research commissioned by Hexagon. Some 58% of children welcomed the prospect, compared with 28% of adults.
The findings suggest that employers preparing for greater use of robotics will need to consider confidence and familiarity alongside technical training. Across the UK sample, 80% of children were excited about robots more generally, compared with 47% of adults.
“We need to give people practical experience with robotics while building the critical thinking, creativity, and confidence so that people of all ages can use these technologies responsibly.”
Burkhard Boeckem, chief technology officer, Hexagon
Recent AI use was reported by 85% of children and 75% of adults. Children were also more likely to have encountered a physical robot: 58% had done so, compared with 48% of adults.
However, enthusiasm had limits. While 76% of children and 71% of adults were comfortable with a robot assistant, only 20% of children and 14% of adults were comfortable with a robot boss. The distinction highlights the importance of human judgement and accountability as organisations introduce new technology.
The research was conducted by Vitreous World in October and November 2025 among 9,000 adults and 9,000 children aged eight to 18 across nine countries. The figures above relate to the UK findings released by Hexagon.
