“Technology Should Be a Source of Empowerment, Not Anxiety”

Robots on construction sites? A threat to some, an opportunity for others. NCCR DFAB Researcher Sihui Wu from the Chair of Work and Organizational Psychology at ETH Zurich is researching how technology can support people in their everyday work, and why it must not become a source of fear.

Researcher Sihui Wu aims to understand the relationship between human and technology in the workplace. Picture by Sebastian Wagner

The construction industry is under increasing pressure, with a shortage of skilled workers, rising productivity demands, and accelerating digitalisation. While the environmental and economic impacts of new technologies are widely recognised, their social consequences remain less explored. This is where Sihui Wu’s work comes in. As a trained architect now researching at the intersection of human and technology experience, she investigates how people perceive and respond to emerging tools such as robotics, and what these shifts mean for workers’ well-being, skills, and the quality of work.

Hi Sihui. What initially sparked your interest in the relationship between human and technology?

Engaging with both the technical and social sides ultimately drew me to human-technology interaction research. I was fascinated by the developments in robotics, but I was also curious why some people find robots so intimidating. Once on the construction site, a worker stopped me and asked, “Will robots really take over my job?” The emotion in his voice stuck with me, and that’s why I now study not just machines, but the people working alongside them.

Today I look at the social implications of automation, and I aim to understand the relationship between human and technology in the workplace. I focus on the design and construction sector and explore questions like: How can we design and use new technology in a way that supports people and their jobs?

What excites you most about working at the intersection of architecture and robotics?

What excites me most is bridging two very different worlds. Having worked as an architect and later with robotics startups, I’ve seen how architecture often focuses on aesthetics and broader visions, while robotics is highly technical and precise. Bringing these perspectives together creates opportunities for innovation. I’m excited to take it further, exploring questions like how the meanings of creativity, materiality, and labor have shifted or will continue to shift with this emerging technology.

Sihui Wu is working on a project about uncertainties in robotic workflows with her collaborator Eleni Skevaki from EPFL (CRCL, NCCR DFAB). Picture by Sihui Wu

How has your perspective on the human-technology interface evolved since working in a context of organizational psychology?

Working in organizational psychology has shown me that effective human-technology interface goes far beyond the screens and buttons. It’s about how technology fits into the whole systems of work, including skills, tasks and teamwork. The central premise is that making people more motivated and satisfied in their jobs can enhance performance outcomes in automation. That shift in thinking matters a lot.

You investigate human-technology interaction. What significance do these connections hold in today’s construction industry?

I often describe it as “hopes and fears”. When it comes to robotics, managers see hope in faster production, but workers often feel fear—fear of being replaced. The construction industry is where automation is moving fast, but the human side is often overlooked. When robotics align with workers’ competence and motivation, the acceptance grows. But if they feel disruptive, people are likely to push back, no matter how much the technology might improve efficiency or safety. Robots are also transforming the professional identity and skills of people. Ultimately, our work tries to connect these dots and helps rethink what makes meaningful work on construction sites.

When you observe the construction sector, whether in Switzerland or globally, what developments or challenges surprise you the most?

When I look at the Swiss construction sector, what surprises me the most is how little attention is given to mental health challenges. Construction is still dominated by a productivity-first mindset, and worker well-being often comes second. I believe the sector could benefit a lot by creating a healthier, more inclusive environment.

What are you currently working on?

Currently I am developing BuildWork, an online game for fostering human-centered automation in construction. In the game, players complete a simulated building project by allocating tasks across human and robotic agents. It provides a playful and experimental way to reflect on how automation is introduced and how it affects roles on the construction site. Imagine a robot becoming your co-worker one day. What that experience feels like depends on how the robot was designed in the first place, and how your boss decided to bring it in. Would they care about your well-being as a user? That’s exactly the kind of reflection BuildWork is meant to spark.

The paper prototype of BuildWork was designed through an iterative, participatory process and tested by various stakeholders. Picture by Sihui Wu

What long-term impact do you hope your research will achieve?

My long-term goal is to make people feel happier in their job. I want technology to make work more meaningful, so that it becomes a source of empowerment, not anxiety. At the same time, I hope my research encourages people to be more reflective about why technology is needed at all and when it really makes sense to use it. Not every problem needs a high-tech solution.