nurbook
When Robots Move In: Living with Conversational AI in the Home
Author(s): Indra Mckie (Author)
- Publisher: Chapman and Hall/CRC
- Publication Date: September 21, 2026
- Edition: 1st
- Language: English
- Print length: 232 pages
- ISBN-10: 1041157053
- ISBN-13: 9781041157052
Book Description
When Robots Move In explores what happens when AI becomes a permanent member of the household. Drawing on years of immersive research, the book reveals how voice assistants transform domestic life, reshaping relationships, routines, and spaces. It offers a compelling look at the negotiations and adaptations that emerge as families integrate AI into their everyday lives, uncovering universal patterns of interaction that resonate across cultures.
The book introduces innovative frameworks like the Effort Triad, the Embodied Interaction Heuristic, and brand anthropomorphism to analyze how people engage with stationary voice assistants. It also presents practical concepts such as custodianship roles, spatial resistance tactics, and compassionate automation, offering tools to navigate shared spaces with AI. By connecting these findings to the next generation of domestic technology―mobile humanoid robots―it provides a forward-looking perspective on the future of AI in the home.
This book bridges disciplines such as human–computer interaction, sociology, and design, and offers both theoretical insights and practical applications to understand the evolving role of AI in everyday life. It is a key resource for researchers, designers, and policymakers who are working with conversational AI, social robots, or smart home technologies.
Editorial Reviews
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Dr. Indra Mckieis an Entrepreneur and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, where she investigates trust in digital systems and human-centred approaches to artificial intelligence as part of a Trustworthy Digital Society project on building tech trust in older adults. Her doctoral research on conversational AI and human-computer interaction earned the 2025 Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Doctoral Dissertation Award, and international award recognising significant contributions to information science and technology.
Indra’s work bridges rigorous academic research with practical community impact and entrepreneurship. She has founded multiple ventures that apply human-centred design principles to deliver innovative solutions across technology education and community support. Her research has been presented at international conferences and published in leading HCI venues, examining how people negotiate space, control, and meaning when living with AI technologies. She is a 2024 Vogue Code Future Innovators Award winner for her work in technology, creativity and entrepreneurship.
Before entering academia, Indra worked in data analysis and user experience roles in finance and tertiary education, bringing industry perspectives to her scholarly work. She advocates for human-first technology, designing approaches that centre lived experience, cultural context, and social relationships rather than technical capabilities alone. This philosophy shapes her research methodology, her teaching, and her public speaking on responsible AI development. A leader and frequent speaker on conversational and generative AI, domestic robotics, and inclusive technology design, Indra brings accessible explanations of complex technical systems to diverse audiences.
