Would you like to have a robot sidekick with you at school?

That may be a way off, but research from the USA suggests that having a robot buddy might help children to overcome anxiety and become more confident with reading in front of people.

Lauren Wright, from the University of Chicago, led a study in which 52 children, all aged 8-11, read a story in three different settings: alone, to a human adult and to a robot called Misty (above).

Most pupils felt more comfortable and less worried about making mistakes when reading to Misty. They found Misty cute, fun and less stressful. One pupil felt “less judged”, while another said: “Even when I made a mistake, I knew it couldn’t be mad at me.”

Wright reckons that robots could help grown-ups, too. She said: “For people who avoid learning new skills because they’re nervous about how they look or sound as a beginner, robots might be one way to practise in a safe space until they gain more confidence.”

Not all kids liked Misty, though – some found it a bit off-putting and didn’t like its robotic voice. Let us know what you think in our poll!