What is the Uncanny Valley?

The uncanny valley refers to the uneasy or negative reaction people have towards humanoid robots or digital avatars that appear almost, but not exactly, like real humans. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable as robots, avatars, and animations strive for hyperrealism but fall into a disturbing gap that’s been termed the uncanny valley. They look incredibly lifelike, yet upon closer inspection, it’s clear they aren’t human. Encountering a representation in this valley often triggers feelings of weirdness, discomfort, or disgust.

You might have felt this yourself while watching a computer-generated movie or playing a video game. The characters appear nearly human, but there’s a small gap between seeming “almost human” and being “fully human” that can cause a sense of discomfort or even revulsion.

Uncanny Valley

The uncanny valley refers to the creepy feeling people get when robots, androids, or simulations look a lot like humans but not enough to be completely convincing. This feeling of something being nearly human but not quite is what makes the uncanny valley unsettling.

The concept of the uncanny valley was first introduced in the 1970s by Masahiro Mori, a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Mori observed that as robots became more humanlike, they seemed more endearing to people—up to a point. When robots reach a certain threshold of human likeness, they enter the uncanny valley, where our sense of familiarity turns into discomfort and even fear. Essentially, the uncanny valley is our negative reaction to robots that are too lifelike.

Uncanny Valley Graph

Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori introduced the concept of the “uncanny valley” in his 1970 essay, “Bukimi no Tani,” which translates to “valley of eeriness.” As a child, Mori was unsettled by wax figures because he found them creepy. In his essay, he described the uncanny valley effect while discussing his reactions to electronic prosthetic hands that were being developed at the time, noting that they evoked a similar eerie feeling.

Although Mori coined the term, the phenomenon of feeling uneasy about objects that look nearly human predates him, with figures like Charles Darwin having reported similar sensations.

The English phrase “uncanny valley” was first used in Jasia Reichardt’s 1978 book titled “Robots: Fact, Fiction, and Prediction.“

While Mori initially focused on robot design, the concept of the uncanny valley has since been applied more broadly to any human-like object or image that causes discomfort.

The uncanny valley happens when things like robots or video game characters look really close to humans but not exactly. It makes people feel weird or uncomfortable. You can see this a lot in movies with very realistic animations. Some famous examples are:

1. Telenoid

Telenoid, a robotic communication device created by Japanese roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, was deemed one of the creepiest robots by IEEE Spectrum. Its alien-like appearance, with a bald head and a face devoid of expression, contributes to its unsettling effect.

2. Diego-san

Developed by researchers at the University of California San Diego’s Machine Perception Lab, Diego-san is a robotic baby intended to assist parents in understanding their babies. Despite its sophisticated facial expressions, its large size and vacant eyes can be perceived as unsettling.

3. Geminoid HI

Another creation by Ishiguro, Geminoid HI is an android replica of himself, complete with hair from his own scalp. Ishiguro’s (the creator’s) aim was to explore the essence of being human through this robot.

4. Sophia

Sophia, a humanoid robot designed by David Hanson, has become quite famous for her range of emotional expressions and language processing skills, similar to Soul Machines’ AVA.

5. Anthropomorphized Felines

The uncanny valley is not limited to humanoid forms. The live-action adaptations of “The Lion King” and “Cats” in 2019 showed that photorealistic animations of animals with human-like features can also provoke a sense of eeriness.

If you’re not aiming to create a sense of discomfort, there are design principles you can follow to steer clear of the uncanny valley. According to experts, avoiding a mix of human and non-human traits in robots or animated characters can reduce the unsettling effect. Ensuring that facial expressions, body movements, and speech tones are congruent and reflect genuine emotions is crucial. It’s particularly important to get the details of the eyes, forehead, and mouth right, as these features convey complex emotions and thoughts.

Christoph Bartneck, an associate professor at the University of Canterbury, emphasizes that the goal is not necessarily to avoid the uncanny valley but to create good animations and behaviors that match a robot’s appearance and abilities.

He notes that our ability to detect even minor deviations from normal human movements or behavior is highly developed, which often leads to challenges in creating realistic characters. Bartneck also suggests that the uncanny valley might be more of an uncanny cliff, where once robots achieve a humanlike appearance, their likability drops sharply, and they don’t recover from this fall.

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The uncanny valley is a curious and complex reaction we have towards figures that look nearly human but aren’t quite there. It’s a fascinating area of study that intersects technology, psychology, and art. Understanding this phenomenon can help us navigate the ever-advancing field of robotics and computer-generated imagery, allowing designers and engineers to create more comfortable and relatable interactions between humans and machines.

As technology progresses, the challenge remains to bridge the eerie gap of the uncanny valley, enhancing our ability to connect with the artificial beings designed to be our helpers, companions, or entertainers.

The uncanny valley refers to the discomfort or eeriness people feel when they encounter robots or animated characters that look almost human.

Who first identified the uncanny valley?

Masahiro Mori, a robotics professor, first coined the term “uncanny valley” in the 1970s.

Can the uncanny valley affect animated characters?

Yes, both animated characters and robots that look too human can trigger the uncanny valley effect.

Is the uncanny valley reaction the same for everyone?

No, the intensity of the uncanny valley reaction varies from person to person.

How can creators avoid the uncanny valley?

Creators can avoid the uncanny valley by ensuring that characters’ appearances match their behaviors and by avoiding a mix of human and non-human traits.

What is an example of the uncanny valley in pop culture?

The live-action versions of “The Lion King” and “Cats” with their human-like animal characters are recent examples.

Is it possible to completely overcome the uncanny valley?

Overcoming the uncanny valley is challenging, and some experts believe it may not be entirely possible to do so.

What is the Uncanny Valley?