Editorial: Intelligent assistants for all

teaming, human-autonomy teaming, care robotics 3 Demographic shifts have created to a growing population at a risk of exclusion from fundamental aspects of daily life. Among 4 them, the elderly and those with disabilities constitute some of the most marginalized members of our society. In response, 5 political and academic discussions are increasingly emphasizing the potential of emerging technologies, such as robotics and AI, 6to address these challenges. This highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in researching and developing innovative 7 methodologies and prototypes aimed at augmenting technological support to mitigate existing barriers. In the workplace, 8 robotic and technological aids are essential for assisting with task completion, while in caregiving, social robots contribute to 9 maintaining cognitive engagement among the elderly. Across various contexts, interactions between humans, robots, machines, 10 and AI demonstrate significant potential for promoting inclusivity, ultimately advancing the goal of a fair and accessible society 11 for all. 12 Including individuals with disabilities, whether stemming from age, congenital conditions, or injury, plays an important role in 13 overcoming demographic challenges. However, its success depends on robust and accessible assistive technologies driven by 14 novel methods for human-robot, human-machine, and human-AI interaction. This Research Topic explores innovative approaches 15 to caregiving and workplaces that involve collaboration between individuals with disabilities and (partially) automated systems. 16However, the tendency towards tailored assistance risks perpetuating the perceived gap between individuals with disabilities and 17 those without, underscoring the need for technical solutions that benefit all equally. Through such inclusive measures, genuine 18 equality can be realized, highlighting the necessity for seamless support in caregiving and daily life. 19In the Research Topic, we bring together interdisciplinary contributions that advance our understanding of how robotics and 20 digital health technologies can augment human capacities, support well-being, and enable richer human-machine collaboration 21 across emotional, cognitive, and physical domains. Salem and Sumi systematically induced embarrassment in human-robot 22 interaction and showed that neutral and empathic robot responses, particularly when combined with an anime-style face, can 23 meaningfully mitigate embarrassment by shaping emotional regulation and perceived social agency in interactions with a robot. 24These findings have important implications for designing emotionally intelligent robotic companions.