What an insanely bizarre bit of “social science.” This research obviously did not include a robot-forward thinking society like Japan, haha. They’re literally already using robot companions for elderly care and companionship.

Also the first and second questions have wildly different meanings and are barely even related. Who on earth is suggesting we lie to old people that their robots are human? I don’t think people like being lied to about most things, why would they be comfortable being robo-catfished?

Artificial companion robots can be robo-dog, cat, BB8 droid, baby Yoda, literally unlimited non-human options.