This paper introduces the human-like embodied AI interviewer which integrates android robots equipped with advanced conversational capabilities, including attentive listening, conversational repairs, and user fluency adaptation. Moreover, it can analyze and present results post-interview. We conducted a real-world case study at SIGDIAL 2024 with 42 participants, of whom 69% reported positive experiences. This study demonstrated the system’s effectiveness in conducting interviews just like a human and marked the first employment of such a system at an international conference. The demonstration video is available at https://youtu.be/jCuw9g99KuE.

The author’s research advances human-AI interaction across two innovative domains to enhance the depth and authenticity of communication. Through Emotional Validation, which leverages psychotherapeutic techniques, the research enriches SDSs with advanced capabilities for understanding and responding to human emotions. On the other hand, while utilizing Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs), the author focuses on developing agents that simulate sophisticated human social behaviors, enhancing their ability to engage in context-sensitive and personalized dialogue. Together, these initiatives aim to transform SDSs and ECAs into empathetic, embodied companions, pushing the boundaries of conversational AI.