ROBOTS could soon be helping with our shopping or even accompanying us to football matches after the city hosted the world's first 'Social Robotics' conference. 

BT, Tesco and Sainsbury's were just some of the companies to observe demonstrations on how robots could interact with customers at Oxford Brookes University last week.

Arsenal Football Club even made an appearance as event organiser Chris Wood said clubs were becoming increasingly interested in how robots could be used to improve fan engagement.

Mr Wood said: "It went fantastically well and the feedback we got from companies was that it was very helpful and useful to them.

"The main thrust of the conference was to show the impact robots can have on businesses, customers and employees.

"It was demonstrated the robots could be used in customer service - they could introduce themselves and then help with queries."

He added: "Robots could also be used to interact with children and the elderly - it's a form of social engagement and could also be used in education."

He also said that football clubs had been looking at using robots to possible 'meet and greet' young fans.

The event, organised by Mr Wood's company Connect Business Media and the Association of Business Psychology attracted 162 visitors and saw more than 30 experts give talk on a range of subjects. 

The topic of robots being used to interact with elderly people and children was raised and new British Standards Institute guidelines on designing ethical robots were heavily discussed.

Head judge of BBC's Robot Wars professor Noel Sharkey spoke on the issue and warned that a relationship with a robot could be one-sided - with artificial intelligence deceiving humans into feeling an emotional bond. 

Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, who famously battled against IBM's Deep Blue in a man versus machine series of chess games, added his thoughts on how humans should utilise robot technology.

The Russian, whose loss back in 1997 was made into a documentary film, explained that artificial intelligence could actually "unleash" human creativity.

He told the audience: "We are not losing anything to intelligent machines - we are learning."

He later tweeted: "I met interesting robots and even more interesting humans while in Oxford.

"Professor Sharkey had some great insights on my own 'robot wars' with chess computers, especially Deep Blue." 

Earlier this year Headington School introduced NAO the robot to pupils for the first time.

Since March the girls have programmed the robot to teach dance lessons and recite Shakespearean insults as a learning tool.