From delivering meals in restaurants to tidying up at airports, robots are becoming a regular part of our lives—so are our laws keeping pace?

A recent study by Monash University reveals that some of the world’s most advanced cities lack sufficient policies to safeguard the public’s interests.

This research, published in the Journal of Asian Public Policy, evaluated six cities in Asia to check how well they’re preparing for a future filled with robots in public spaces. The cities examined—Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, and Tokyo—were selected for their high robot usage.

The study focused on seven important areas, including safety, privacy, ethics, productivity, design, equal access, and innovation.

Although safety has generally been addressed, the research highlighted that other issues affecting social and economic wellbeing are often overlooked.

Lead researcher Professor Michael Mintrom, from the Monash School of Social Sciences, pointed out that governments seldom involve citizens in discussions about their hopes and concerns regarding the rise of robots.

“Only Taipei, Tokyo, and Shanghai showed any initiative in co-designing policies,” Professor Mintrom noted.

“This highlights a significant gap in policy design. Governments often express interest in fostering innovation related to robots, which is great. However, they tend to ignore the valuable insights that everyday people can provide, which could inform future developments of robots.”

The researchers emphasized the danger of allowing companies sole discretion over robot design and implementation.

Co-author Associate Professor Shanti Sumartojo, from Monash Art, Design and Architecture, mentioned that the study sheds light on the challenge of keeping policies up-to-date with rapidly evolving public concerns, whether they relate to new technologies, climate change, or societal shifts.

“We aim to understand how policymaking can transition from reactive to proactive,” Associate Professor Sumartojo explained.

“Co-design can enable policymakers to cultivate forward-thinking approaches to tackle the challenges posed by a swiftly changing world.”

Professor Mintrom said that while robots can significantly enhance society, more efforts are needed to mitigate the associated risks.