Social Robotics and Large Language Models for Disability: A Scoping Review

Social Robotics and Large Language Models for Disability: A Scoping Review | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Systematic Review Social Robotics and Large Language Models for Disability: A Scoping Review Alva Markelius, Hatice Gunes This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7260703/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This paper examines the intersection of social robotics and large language models (LLMs) in applications and interventions for disabled people. We adopt a hybrid approach drawing on methodologies from quantitative scoping and critical narrative reviews and synthesize research from 2014 to 2024, highlighting how these technologies are individually and jointly employed to address needs across neurological, physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities. The aim of the review is to identify how human-robot interaction (HRI) and LLMs previously have been used for disabled people, and assess the implications of combining the two technologies for disability-related interventions. The review identifies existing studies, including their overarching goals, methodologies used, and setting, the role, form and capabilities of the agents and the targeted disability groups. Furthermore, it critically evaluates the social and ethical implications, including concerns about the framing of disability within technology design. By analysing the potential harms and benefits of integrating LLMs with physically embodied social robots for disabled people, this work discusses how such advancements might reinforce or challenge existing systemic inequities in disability-focused interventions in social robotics research. Finally, this paper offers a conceptual contribution to adaptation in social robots for disability, based on the findings in the review. Robotics Social Robotics Disability Large Language Models Human-Robot Interaction Social AI Critical Disability Studies Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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