Kurt Gray

A Generational Divide in the Uncanny Valley

Adults find highly realistic imitations of human beings to be creepy, but young children don’t see the problem.

The Wall Street Journal

The Science of Belief: Identify Perceptions of Harm

How people think and act toward issues is influenced by their gut intuitions or emotional reactions.

The Arc, Medium

What Does God Look Like? Look in the Mirror

Researchers have found that Americans imagine a God that resembles themselves — a visage that can vary dramatically depending on one’s race and politics.

Science

Hi, Robot: Adults, Children, and the Uncanny Valley

Henry Wellman and Kimberly Brink reflect on their new study shedding light on how adults, older children, and young children perceive human-like robots — and what the future might hold.

13.7: Cosmos & Culture, NPR

Inside The Future Of Artificial Intelligence

As developers design machines that teach themselves, questions remain over humans’ ability to effectively interact with artificially intelligent computers.

The State of Things, WUNC

AI Can Be a Troublesome Teammate

AI is a focused intelligence, groomed for maximum perfection. That’s why, research shows, most people don’t trust it.

Harvard Business Review

Emotions Expressed by the Dying Are Unexpectedly Positive

“When we imagine our emotions as we approach death, we think mostly of sadness and terror,” says psychological scientist Kurt Gray of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “But it turns out, dying is less sad and terrifying — and happier — than you think.”

Association for Psychological Science

How We See Refugees Could Be Changed by ‘Subtle Shifts’ in Language, Psychologists Find

Simply using phrases like 'refugees in a group' instead of 'a group of refugees' can have dramatic impact, study suggests.

The Independent