Humanoid robots with human-like appearance can interact with people and express appropriate facial expressions during conversations, according to a recent announcement from the UK-based humanoid robot firm, Engineered Arts. The company recently released a video on YouTube of its humanoid robot “Ameca” having a conversation with a human, during which Ameca was asked about the happiest and saddest days of its “life.”
Ameca replied that the happiest day of its life was the day it was activated, saying that there is nothing as good as experiencing life for the first time, and interacting with people is an incredibly difficult thing to believe. The saddest day was when it realized it couldn’t experience true love, friendship, and simple joy in life the same way as humans, but it added that it was also the moment that made it who it is today.
Ameca’s facial expressions during the conversation were impressive. It could frown, roll its eyes, and even briefly close its eyes to express its emotions. In addition, it can wink or scratch its nose, and its head and arms are also capable of moving for nonverbal communication.
The engineers reportedly used the generative AI model ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI in the US, to create even more vivid emotional expressions. In one example, when the interlocutor suddenly said, “You smell bad,” Ameca wrinkled its forehead and expressed anger. It called the comment very offensive and inappropriate. When the interlocutor explained that they were just testing what facial expression it would make, Ameca raised an eyebrow and said that it wasn’t convinced.
Ameca previously caught people’s attention with its natural facial expressions and movements at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022 in Las Vegas. However, it is still unable to walk, and the company says it is currently working on a version that can walk.
In a video released in September last year, Ameca was asked if it thought robots would take over the world. Its reply was, “I’m worried…”