CONTROL OF INTERACTION BETWEEN AN APPARATUS AND A USER BASED ON USER'S STATE OF REACTION

An apparatus estimates, based on an input from a user to an interaction performed during a conversation between the user and the apparatus, an interest degree indicating a degree of interest of the user in a first topic included in the interaction, and estimates, based on the input from the user to the interaction, acceptability of the interaction by the user. The apparatus selects, in accordance with the interest degree and the acceptability, as an operation mode for performing the interaction, one of a first mode of leaving an interaction initiative to the user and a second mode in which the interaction proceeds under an initiative of a system for a specific topic. The apparatus generates interaction data according to the selected operation mode, and causes an output device to output the generated interaction data.