Robots, Rights, and Responsibility: A New Conversation for Hospitality

Robots, Rights, and Responsibility: A New Conversation for Hospitality

From Allinfoodz by Food Decisions Research Laboratory

February 19, 2026 · 23 min · Episode 128

About this episode

The episode discusses the moral and legal status of intelligent service robots in the hospitality industry.

As hospitality races toward automation, the industry must confront a deeper question: what moral and legal status should intelligent service robots hold? Dr. Anna Mattila, along with our host Amit Sharma guide listeners through the complexities of robot personhood, liability, governance, and the shifting boundaries between technology and humanity. Reference papers : Sharma, A., & Mattila, A. (2026). Rights and Responsibilities of Hospitality Service Robots. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/10963480251393749 Choi, S., Mattila, A. S., & Bolton, L. E. (2021). To Err is Human(-oid): How Do Consumers React to Robot Service Failure and Recovery?. Journal of Service Research, 24(3), 354-371. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670520978798 Music credit: "West in Africa" by John Bartmann is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License .

People in this episode

Host: Amit Sharma

Guest: Dr. Anna Mattila

Topics covered

  • automation
  • hospitality
  • robot ethics
  • service robots
  • liability
  • technology and humanity

Keywords

  • hospitality
  • automation
  • robot personhood
  • liability
  • governance
  • service robots
  • technology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Food Decisions Research Laboratory, Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, Journal of Service Research

Books & works: Rights and Responsibilities of Hospitality Service Robots, To Err is Human(-oid): How Do Consumers React to Robot Service Failure and Recovery?

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