How Robotic Artists Perceive ’Collaboration’ with Machines?

This study investigates how artists who build or modify robotic systems perceive human-machine “collaboration” in their artistic practices. Through semi-structured interviews with senior robotic artists, we identify a dissonance between the artists’ perceptions and the narrative of robots as collaborative agents—the artists reject the notion of robots as collaborators, viewing them instead as tools that shape and are shaped by human creativity. Drawing on a materialist perspective, we reflect on the anthropomorphic implication of human-machine collaboration and suggest an alternative framework that recognizes how robots, with their material properties, complement human users in the creative process. The findings contribute to understanding humans’ and machines’ unique contributions and roles in artistic endeavors. © 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).