Uncanny valley

The Uncanny Valley is a concept in robotics and artificial intelligence that describes the unsettling feeling people experience when they encounter a humanoid robot or digital figure that looks almost, but not quite, human. As these figures become more lifelike, they can evoke empathy and connection—up to a point. However, when they are very close to looking human but still have noticeable differences, they can create feelings of discomfort or eeriness. This dip in emotional response, akin to a valley, illustrates our complex relationship with human-like creations and highlights the challenges in designing lifelike robots or characters.