A1 Level – Elementary
1. Do you like looking at robots?
2. What is a strange face?
3. Do you think robots should look like people?
4. What is a bad feeling?
5. Do you think some toys are scary?
6. What is a real person?
7. Do you worry about robots being too real?
8. What is a simple mistake?
9. Do you think movies use too much CGI?
10. What is a fast movement?
11. Do you like simple cartoon characters?
12. What is a complex machine?
13. Do you like clear differences?
14. What are three things that make a robot look human?
15. Do you think the future will be strange?
A2 Level – Pre-Intermediate
1. What is the difference between a simple robot and a humanoid one?
2. Why does something “almost” human feel strange?
3. What are the good things and bad things about realistic CGI in movies?
4. How can a designer make a robot look less unsettling?
5. Should all robots be clearly non-human in design?
6. Why is it important for robots to have clear, understandable movements?
7. Do you think children are less affected by the “uncanny valley”?
8. What is the purpose of trying to make robots look like us?
9. How does cultural background affect acceptance of human-like figures?
10. What is the difference between an actor and a digital double?
11. Do you think the problem will disappear as technology improves?
12. What are the problems when a robot’s eyes look fake?
13. When is the best time to stop trying to achieve perfect realism?
14. What are two things that make a figure look “uncanny”?
15. How does a lack of natural movement affect feeling trust?
B1 Level – Intermediate
1. What are the simple ways to politely discuss a strange feeling about a piece of technology?
2. How does the cost affect the quality of robot design?
3. Should the government provide resources to study human-robot interaction?
4. What is the difference between aesthetic appreciation and psychological revulsion?
5. Do you believe that the “uncanny valley” is a survival instinct?
6. What are the challenges of creating an emotional connection with a non-human entity?
7. How does focusing on appearance affect the focus on functionality?
8. What is the idea of “cognitive challenge”?
9. Is it fair when a person is mocked for feeling uneasy about a new technology?
10. How does a lack of clear human features affect empathy?
11. What are the basic steps for identifying the “valley” in a piece of art?
12. What is the value of keeping robots clearly non-human?
13. Should the news talk more about the ethical implications of realistic robots?
14. What are the simple reasons why some people prefer non-human-like AI voices?
15. How does the history of automata affect modern robotics?
B2 Level – Upper-Intermediate
1. What are the simple social problems caused by distrust in realistic figures?
2. What are the ethical issues when companies use realistic humanoids for customer service?
3. How does constant media showing of AI affect expectations for human interaction?
4. Should companies be legally required to disclose when an image is computer-generated?
5. How does the feeling of discomfort affect the adoption of new technology?
6. Who is responsible for educating the public on this psychological phenomenon?
7. What is your simple view on the practice of creating digital doubles of actors?
8. What is the role of technology in automating human emotional response research?
9. How does the problem of visual ambiguity affect our classification of “human”?
10. What are the clear problems with allowing people to hide their intent?
11. What are the legal differences between general realism and deliberate misleading?
12. Do you think the main purpose of this effect is to protect the human species?
13. What steps can individual citizens take to promote acceptance of new figures?
14. How does the lack of clear rules affect robot design ethics?
15. What are the simple psychological effects of a slight lack of perfection?
C1 Level – Advanced
1. Is it fair that the most advanced technology is often the most unsettling?
2. What is the moral duty of a designer to minimize the feeling of revulsion?
3. How do global cultural differences affect the depth of the “uncanny valley”?
4. When should the government consider mandatory design standards for humanoids?
5. What are the simple ethical problems of companies profiting from a psychological weakness?
6. How does focusing on mimicry affect the need for authentic human connection?
7. Discuss the effects of long-term exposure to highly realistic, but flawed, digital characters.
8. How should leaders use policy to promote ethical AI and robotics design?
9. What is the idea of “existential unease”?
10. What are the long-term social effects when people start to prefer robot companions?
11. What are the clear difficulties when courts try to decide if a design was deliberately misleading?
12. How does the desire for perfection affect the need for simple utility?
13. Do you think the most important thing is the preservation of human empathy?
14. What are the simple moral rules a person should follow when dealing with realistic AI?
15. Should the government set a clear standard for digital ethics?
C2 Level – Proficiency
1. What is the true difference between a manufactured presence and authentic consciousness?
2. Should we eliminate the system that allows for massive deception in digital art?
3. How does the idea of “human” change when robots look and act perfectly like us?
4. What laws are needed to prevent major corporate use of highly realistic digital figures?
5. How do historical views of doppelgängers, simulacra, and art affect modern tech?
6. How can a society ensure that empathy is shown to the robotic figures themselves?
7. Do you think total transparency about technology would fix this problem?
8. What simple rules should guide scientists when they try to cross the “valley”?
9. How can we stop people from using personal choice as an excuse for poor habits?
10. What did old thinkers say about perception, reality, and the nature of life?
11. What will happen to the need for human actors if AI creates perfect performances?
12. How do people use the idea of “it’s just a robot” to avoid discussing discomfort?
13. How does the experience of a major breakthrough change a person’s view of the future?
14. What is the power of a group to demand ethical and safe technology?
15. If scientists could create a perfect, perfectly human android, what would happen?
