As artificial intelligence permeates everyday life, the question of how humans and animals perceive and engage with artificial agents has become a vital area of scientific inquiry. Our research takes a dual approach to this challenge. First, we examined behavioral responses in both young humans and zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) during interactions with robotic agents. Interestingly, both species displayed comparable social behaviors whether engaging with biological or artificial entities, indicating that responses to artificial agents may fundamentally echo natural social patterns.

Second, we explored how cultural backgrounds influence adults’ willingness to grant moral agency to AI systems. Using mixed methods across Singapore and France, we analyzed evaluation of scenarios involving various artificial agents—from physical robots to disembodied AI—within familiar urban settings. The results unveiled cultural differences in moral attribution. Together, these complementary investigations—spanning species boundaries and cultural contexts—reveal how evolved social cognition and cultural frameworks jointly shape our relationships with artificial intelligence. This research compels us to reexamine traditional boundaries of social and moral consideration as AI becomes increasingly woven into the fabric of human society.