Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving controls in a device according to risk. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to receiving sensor data about a surrounding environment of the device, identifying objects from the sensor data that are present in the surrounding environment. The method includes generating a control sequence for controlling the device according to a risk-sensitivity parameter to navigate toward a destination while considering risk associated with encountering the objects defined by the risk-sensitivity parameter. The method includes controlling the device according to the control sequence.