Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
By 2030, humanoid robots are expected to become integral to workplaces, performing roles once filled by humans. Although many are still in the pilot stage, they are being designed with enough dexterity to navigate offices and even climb stairs. Humanoid robots equipped with cameras and sensors are engineered to resemble humans by imitating expressions, movements, and interactions.
As robots become more prevalent, flexible workspaces are expected to integrate them as well. Since these spaces thrive on collaboration, mentorship, and trust, the central question is whether humanoid robots will enhance productivity and efficiency without undermining the genuine sense of community that defines coworking.
A key first step is to ensure the deployment of robots aligns with the needs and priorities of coworking members. In practice, this means managing the robots so that their behavior and outputs reflect the coworking community’s values and desired outcomes. Simply put, it ensures the AI does what it is intended to do, in the way it is intended, especially in a human-centered, value-driven environment such as a coworking space.
Define your Community before Introducing Robots
Coworking managers play a central role in shaping culture by organizing events and structuring opportunities that encourage knowledge exchange and collaboration. At the heart of this culture is the concept of community. However, not all coworking communities are the same. Some coworking spaces prioritize efficiency and convenience (transactional), while others emphasize shared purpose and mutual support (collaborative). The nature of a specific coworking community influences member expectations and determines how technologies such as AI and robots are integrated and received by coworkers.
Before introducing robots, coworking managers should therefore clarify the type of community they are (or desire to be). In transactional spaces, robots can enhance efficiency by handling operational tasks, such as cleaning communal areas or scheduling tasks. In collaborative environments, robots might take on a more interactive role, such as greeting members, facilitating connections, or managing shared resources.
The question is not what these robots will do, but how they will integrate into the social fabric of coworking communities. Ultimately, whether members accept, resist, or trust their robotic coworkers will depend on the type of community the space maintains.
Robots in Coworking: Supportive Colleagues or Community Disruptors?
The challenge with robots is that they force us to confront the age-old question: will they enhance our lives or cause us to lose something meaningful?
In 1964, the Canadian philosopher, Marshall McLuhan, warned of this conflict in his book Understanding Media, in which he observed that “every extension of mankind…has the effect of amputating some other extension.” Each technological advance, he argued, enhances one human capacity while weakening another — cars increase mobility but reduce walking; phones expand communication but limit face-to-face contact. Similarly, robots in flexible workspaces could streamline workflows but also erode meaningful interpersonal relationships.
This trade-off became tangible two decades later when Frank Cottle, CEO of Alliance Virtual Offices, introduced a holographic receptionist in 1984. “It worked,” he recalled, “but clients didn’t like it — they missed the direct human interaction.” Cottle’s experiment illustrates McLuhan’s point that even when technology succeeds functionally, it can still fail socially if it replaces rather than supports human contact.
The extent to which the erosion of human connection is prevented will depend on how effectively robots are deployed in workspaces. When used strategically, robots could free members and coworking managers to focus on community goals that require face-to-face collaboration and human ingenuity. Conversely, an overreliance on or poorly integrated robots could threaten community cohesion, especially when used to replace key human touchpoints, such as onboarding new members. Furthermore, using advanced AI systems such as humanoid robots without transparency can lead to bias, data misuse, or privacy risks, which could seriously undermine trust within a coworking space. Research also suggests that the constant presence of robots at work can eventually blur work-life boundaries and contribute to stress.
To address these risks, robots must be introduced with clear ethical oversight and transparent communication between managers and members. Automation should enhance, not disrupt, relationships in coworking spaces that are built on human connection.
How to Effectively Integrate Robots into Coworking Spaces
Coworking succeeds when people, technology, and space are well matched. When the members, the robots (as part of technology), and the coworking environment are aligned, robots enhance collaboration, comfort, and community rather than feeling intrusive or out of place. Here is a quick guide to how operators can make that happen effectively:
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1. Integrate Robots with Purpose
Deploy robots for routine tasks, such as scheduling, mail handling, or data management, to free members for creative and strategic work.
Impact: Frees human capacity for innovation and more meaningful collaboration.
2. Design for Human-Centered Interaction
Robots should facilitate engagement, not replace empathy or spontaneity. They can help members find collaborators or manage shared spaces, but should leave room for curiosity and unplanned encounters to occur.
Impact: Strengthens community bonds without undermining relationships.
3. Uphold Ethical and Transparent Practices
Maintain oversight for accountability, fairness, and data privacy. Transparency and alignment with community values build trust and protect the social fabric of coworking.
Impact: Sustains trust and inclusion.
4. Engage the Community in AI Adoption
Involve members in defining robot roles, determining which tasks remain human-led, and providing feedback. When members shape the technology, it becomes a shared ally rather than a disruptive force.
Impact: Encourages ownership and positive engagement.
How Robots Can Become Trusted Coworkers
Community-focused coworking is built on human connection and shared purpose. At its core, trust among coworkers is essential. For robots to be truly accepted, members must therefore feel confident that their robotic coworkers are helpful, safe, and respectful of privacy.
Robots in Coworking: Roles and Impact
| Domain | Robot Role | Design Principles | Intended Impact |
| Belonging & Interaction | Assist in lounges or shared areas by greeting members, delivering refreshments, or managing community boards. | Keep design friendly and unobtrusive. | Encourage casual connection without replacing warmth. |
| Events & Social Programming | Support setup, audiovisual needs, or feedback collection. | Robots assist rather than host. | Increase event efficiency while maintaining human-led energy. |
| Member Participation | Allow members to define roles or program simple functions. | Emphasize transparency and collaboration. | Strengthen trust and ownership. |
| Creative Support | Manage tasks like cleaning or deliveries to free humans for creative work. | Avoid emotional simulation; enable creativity. | Amplify human innovation and connection. |
| Trust & Governance | Help managers gather feedback or track usage patterns. | Maintain ethical oversight and fairness. | Improve efficiency without compromising autonomy. |
Coworking depends on social bonds, professional support, and shared purpose. If robots are integrated with respect for these values, community managers can ensure humanoid robots complement rather than compete with human coworkers. Frank Cottle’s early experiment reminds us that even as technology advances, the human touch remains the foundation of any meaningful coworking experience.
