Embodied agent

In artificial intelligence, an embodied agent, also sometimes referred to as an interface agent,^[1] is an intelligent agent that interacts with the environment through a physical body within that environment. Agents that are represented graphically with a body, for example a human or a cartoon animal, are also called embodied agents, although they have only virtual, not physical, embodiment. A branch of artificial intelligence focuses on empowering such agents to interact autonomously with human beings and the environment. Mobile robots are one example of physically embodied agents; Ananova and Microsoft Agent are examples of graphically embodied agents. Embodied conversational agents are embodied agents (usually with a graphical front-end as opposed to a robotic body) that are capable of engaging in conversation with one another and with humans employing the same verbal and nonverbal means that humans do (such as gesture, facial expression, and so forth).

Embodied conversational agents

A 2011 image of an automated online assistant providing customer service on a web page - an example of an embodied conversational agent

Embodied conversational agents^[2] are a form of intelligent user interface. Graphically embodied agents aim to unite gesture, facial expression and speech to enable face-to-face communication with users, providing a powerful means of human-computer interaction.

Advantages

Face-to-face communication allows communication protocols that give a much richer communication channel than other means of communicating. It enables pragmatic communication acts such as conversational turn-taking, facial expression of emotions, information structure and emphasis, visualisation and iconic gestures, and orientation in a three-dimensional environment. This communication takes place through both verbal and non-verbal channels such as gaze, gesture, spoken intonation and body posture.

Research has found that users prefer a non-verbal visual indication of an embodied system's internal state to a verbal indication,^[3] demonstrating the value of additional non-verbal communication channels. As well as this, the face-to-face communication involved in interacting with an embodied agent can be conducted alongside another task without distracting the human participants, instead improving the enjoyment of such an interaction.^[4] Furthermore, the use of an embodied presentation agent results in improved recall of the presented information.^[5]

Embodied agents also provide a social dimension to the interaction. Humans willingly ascribe social awareness to computers,^[6] and thus interaction with embodied agents follows social conventions, similar to human to human interactions. This social interaction both raises the believability and perceived trustworthiness of agents, and increases the user's engagement with the system.^[7] Rickenberg and Reeves found that the presence of an embodied agent on a website increased the level of user trust in that website, but also increased users' anxiety and affected their performance, as if they were being watched by a real human.^[8] Another effect of the social aspect of agents is that presentations given by an embodied agent are perceived as being more entertaining and less difficult than similar presentations given without an agent.^[7] Research shows that perceived enjoyment, followed by perceived usefulness and ease of use, is the major factor influencing user adoption of embodied agents.^[9]

A study in January 2004 by Byron Reeves at Stanford demonstrated how digital characters could "enhance online experiences" through explaining how virtual characters essentially add a sense of relatability to the user experience and make it more approachable. This increase in likability in turn helps make the products better, which benefits both the end users and those creating the product. ^[10]

Applications

Sgt. Star, the U.S. Army's online assistant

The rich style of communication that characterises human conversation makes conversational interaction with embodied conversational agents ideal for many non-traditional interaction tasks. A familiar application of graphically embodied agents is computer games; embodied agents are ideal for this setting because the richer communication style makes interacting with the agent enjoyable. Embodied conversational agents have also been used in virtual training environments, portable personal navigation guides, interactive fiction and storytelling systems, interactive online characters and automated presenters and commentators.^{[citation needed]}

Major virtual assistants like Siri, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant do not come with any visual embodied representation, which is believed to limit the sense of human presence by users.^[11]

The U.S. Department of Defense utilizes a software agent called SGT STAR on U.S. Army-run Web sites and Web applications for site navigation, recruitment and propaganda purposes. Sgt. Star is run by the Army Marketing and Research Group, a division operated directly from The Pentagon. Sgt. Star is based upon the ActiveSentry technology developed by Next IT, a Washington-based information technology services company. Other such bots in the Sgt. Star "family" are utilized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency for intelligence gathering purposes.^[12][13]

Recent Developments

In 2022 and beyond, research on embodied agents has increasingly focused on long-term human interaction, world modeling, and ethical deployment. A 2025 survey published on arXiv proposed a taxonomy for embodied AI systems, distinguishing between virtual, wearable, and robotic agents, and highlighting the need for situational awareness and trustworthy behavior in real-world settings.^[14]

At ICML 2025, researchers emphasized the importance of designing embodied agents that can adapt to dynamic environments and maintain consistent, transparent behavior over time.^[15]

Embodied agents have also been increasingly integrated into healthcare, education, and customer service applications, with a focus on improving user engagement, empathy, and accessibility through multimodal interaction.

Ethical Considerations

Privacy and Surveillance

Embodied agents equipped with audio-visual sensors raise concerns about continuous surveillance and privacy, particularly in domestic or public settings. Researchers have emphasized transparent data handling, informed consent, and privacy-preserving design as critical best practices.^[16]

Bias and Anthropomorphism

Embodied agents may unintentionally reinforce social stereotypes through their design, including gendered voices, racialized features, or subservient behavior. Designers are increasingly advised to adopt inclusive design principles and to avoid anthropomorphizing agents in ways that reflect or reinforce inequality.^[17]

Deception and Trust

Anthropomorphic designs can lead users to over-trust or anthropomorphize agents, especially when agents express human-like emotions or facial gestures. This can be ethically problematic in emotionally sensitive contexts, such as caregiving or education, where users may be vulnerable to misinterpretation or manipulation.^[18]

Mental Health and Vulnerable Users

When deployed in therapeutic or healthcare settings, embodied agents must be carefully evaluated. Studies have emphasized the need for clinical oversight, risk mitigation, and transparency to avoid harm, especially among users with mental health conditions.^[19]

Equality Implications

The design and deployment of embodied agents have direct implications for equality. Poorly considered implementations may reproduce systemic bias or exclude users across gender, ethnicity, age, or disability. For instance, female-presenting virtual assistants have historically been designed with submissive voices and roles, reinforcing outdated gender norms.^[17]

Moreover, when training data is skewed toward certain demographics, embodied agents may fail to recognize or accurately respond to underrepresented users. Addressing these disparities requires proactive inclusion in design, testing, and feedback loops. Ethically aligned agents should represent a diversity of cultural perspectives and accommodate users with different languages, accessibility needs, and interaction styles.

Researchers and policymakers have called for embodied agents to be developed in accordance with the principles of fairness, inclusivity, and universal design, particularly in domains like education, public service, and healthcare, where AI systems may disproportionately affect marginalized populations.^[16][18]

Regulation and Best Practices

Emerging guidelines, including the EU AI Act and UNESCO's AI ethics recommendations, suggest that embodied agents should be developed in alignment with the following:

• Transparent disclosure of non-human status
• Purpose-limited and auditable data collection
• Inclusive and stereotype-free visual and vocal representation
• Human oversight for emotionally or ethically sensitive applications
• Escalation pathways and safeguards in high-risk settings

These measures are intended to promote responsible innovation and ensure that embodied agents contribute to equitable and trustworthy human–AI interaction.