A Japanese telecom company has released a robot that it says has emotions.
A
Japanese
telecom
company
has
released
a
robot
that
it
says
has
emotions
.
But rather than run in fear from it, we've welcomed it into our homes: Pepper, the "emotional robot," sold out within a minute of going on sale.
But
rather
than
run
in
fear
from
it
,
we
've
welcomed
it
into
our
homes
:
Pepper
,
the
``
emotional
robot
,
''
sold
out
within
a
minute
of
going
on
sale
.
Created by Aldebaran Robotics and Japanese mobile giant SoftBank, Pepper went on sale to the general public in Japan June 20.
Created
by
Aldebaran
Robotics
and
Japanese
mobile
giant
SoftBank
,
Pepper
went
on
sale
to
the
general
public
in
Japan
June
20
.
It is "the first humanoid robot designed to live with humans," Aldebaran says on its website.
It
is
``
the
first
humanoid
robot
designed
to
live
with
humans
,
''
Aldebaran
says
on
its
website
.
Pepper costs about 1,600.
Pepper
costs
about
1,600
.
And like all good mobile products, there's a 120 per month data fee, as well as an 80 per month damage insurance fee.
And
like
all
good
mobile
products
,
there
's
a
120
per
month
data
fee
,
as
well
as
an
80
per
month
damage
insurance
fee
.
According to a news release, Pepper can pick up on human emotions and create his own using a "multi-layer neural network."
According
to
a
news
release
,
Pepper
can
pick
up
on
human
emotions
and
create
his
own
using
a
``
multi-layer
neural
network
.
''
Pepper's touch sensors and cameras are said to influence its mood, which is displayed on the tablet-sized screen on its chest.
Pepper
's
touch
sensors
and
cameras
are
said
to
influence
its
mood
,
which
is
displayed
on
the
tablet-sized
screen
on
its
chest
.
Pepper will sigh when unhappy, and can go around your house recording your family's daily activity.
Pepper
will
sigh
when
unhappy
,
and
can
go
around
your
house
recording
your
family
's
daily
activity
.
Aldebaran says Pepper can feel "joy, surprise, anger, doubt and sadness," but it doesn't say how strongly it can feel these emotions.
Aldebaran
says
Pepper
can
feel
``
joy
,
surprise
,
anger
,
doubt
and
sadness
,
''
but
it
does
n't
say
how
strongly
it
can
feel
these
emotions
.
What happens when Pepper is having a bad day?
What
happens
when
Pepper
is
having
a
bad
day
?
Will it, like many humans, become uncooperative?
Will
it
,
like
many
humans
,
become
uncooperative
?
Will it ask for some time alone?
Will
it
ask
for
some
time
alone
?
What happens if it figures out that its purpose in life is just to engage in small talk?
What
happens
if
it
figures
out
that
its
purpose
in
life
is
just
to
engage
in
small
talk
?
Thankfully, Pepper is only about four feet tall, with roller balls instead of legs, so if it is angry with and even turns on its owners, you'll be safe if you can make it upstairs.
Thankfully
,
Pepper
is
only
about
four
feet
tall
,
with
roller
balls
instead
of
legs
,
so
if
it
is
angry
with
and
even
turns
on
its
owners
,
you
'll
be
safe
if
you
can
make
it
upstairs
.
Aldebaran says in reality, they're probably quite a few decades away from artificial intelligence that could generate real emotions.
Aldebaran
says
in
reality
,
they
're
probably
quite
a
few
decades
away
from
artificial
intelligence
that
could
generate
real
emotions
.
Aldebaran wasn't immediately available for comment on when Pepper will be available outside of Japan, but additional sales are scheduled for July after the first 1,000 units sell out.
Aldebaran
was
n't
immediately
available
for
comment
on
when
Pepper
will
be
available
outside
of
Japan
,
but
additional
sales
are
scheduled
for
July
after
the
first
1,000
units
sell
out
.
SoftBank currently uses the robots in its stores as greeters, and it plans to offer Pepper to other stores in the future.
SoftBank
currently
uses
the
robots
in
its
stores
as
greeters
,
and
it
plans
to
offer
Pepper
to
other
stores
in
the
future
.
Hopefully "boredom" is not an emotion Pepper can feel.
Hopefully
``
boredom
''
is
not
an
emotion
Pepper
can
feel
.
A Japanese telecom company has released a robot that it says has emotions. But rather than run in fear from it, we've welcomed it into our homes: Pepper, the "emotional robot," sold out within a minute of going on sale.  Created by Aldebaran Robotics and Japanese mobile giant SoftBank, Pepper went on sale to the general public in Japan June 20. It is "the first humanoid robot designed to live with humans," Aldebaran says on its website. Pepper costs about 1,600. And like all good mobile products, there's a 120 per month data fee, as well as an 80 per month damage insurance fee. According to a news release, Pepper can pick up on human emotions and create his own using a "multi-layer neural network." Pepper's touch sensors and cameras are said to influence its mood, which is displayed on the tablet-sized screen on its chest.  Pepper will sigh when unhappy, and can go around your house recording your family's daily activity. Aldebaran says Pepper can feel "joy, surprise, anger, doubt and sadness," but it doesn't say how strongly it can feel these emotions. What happens when Pepper is having a bad day? Will it, like many humans, become uncooperative? Will it ask for some time alone? What happens if it figures out that its purpose in life is just to engage in small talk? Thankfully, Pepper is only about four feet tall, with roller balls instead of legs, so if it is angry with and even turns on its owners, you'll be safe if you can make it upstairs.  Aldebaran says in reality, they're probably quite a few decades away from artificial intelligence that could generate real emotions. Aldebaran wasn't immediately available for comment on when Pepper will be available outside of Japan, but additional sales are scheduled for July after the first 1,000 units sell out. SoftBank currently uses the robots in its stores as greeters, and it plans to offer Pepper to other stores in the future. Hopefully "boredom" is not an emotion Pepper can feel.