Artificial Intelligence (AI) as Process Leader in the Robotic Life Cycle and the Risks of Human Instrumentalization

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a process leader within the robotic life cycle, where AI systems guide design, execution, and optimization tasks. By developing a robot following ChatGPT-guided instructions as a case study, this paper investigated how AI can facilitate the building of a robot while also introducing ethical concerns related to the human decision-making process. While prior robotics research has largely treated AI as a supportive tool, recent advances in generative AI and agent-based systems are increasingly positioning AI as a coordinator of development processes. The robot development process was conducted between February 2026 and April 2026. The results of this study displayed the growing influence of how AI is being used in workflows and the associated risks to humans and the decision-making process. This study contributed to the emerging and growing field of AI-led processes by bringing together robotics, generative AI (ChatGPT), and ethical human considerations.