Software developers at UCSD’s California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology have unveiled the latest in artificial intelligence: the Einstein Robot, a model head installed with specialized software that allows it to interact naturally with humans.
Designed by Hanson Robotics President David Hanson, the robot is capable of both recognizing and mimicking facial expressions and can respond accordingly.
Calit2 also equipped the robot with character engine artificial intelligence control software, allowing the robot to hold a conversation with humans.
‘In the short term, Einstein is being used to develop computer vision so we can see how computers perceive facial expressions and develop hardware to visually react,’ said Javier Movellan, a research scientist at the Machine Perception Laboratory in Calit2. ‘This robot is a scientific instrument that we hope will tell us something about human-robot interaction, but also human-to-human interaction.’
The robot’s facial-recognition software was designed by Movellan and a team of Calit2 graduate students’ through analysis of over one million facial images. The software uses a series of computational algorithms that allow Einstein to identify a wide range of emotions, as well as facial movements that reveal gender and age.
‘When a robot interacts in a way we feel is human, we can’t help but react,’ Movellan said. ‘Developing a robot like this one teaches us how sensitive we are to biological movement and facial expressions, and when we get it right, it’s really astonishing.’
By programming it to respond to sounds that are normally heard in an educational setting, such as clapping, creators hope the robot can eventually serve as a teacher.
The robot could also be used to teach foreigners about normal interactions within American society.
‘Some scientists believe strongly that very human-like robots are so inherently creepy that people can never get over it and interact with them normally,’ Hanson said. ‘But these are some of the questions we’re trying to address with the Einstein Robot: Does software engage people more when you have a robot that’s more aware of you?’
Robots like Einstein are currently available for purchase for approximately $75,000, but developers hope to bring the price down to $500. Hanson emphasized the importance of creating robots that will serve a constructive purpose in society.
‘It’s very important that we develop empathic machines ‘mdash; machines that have compassion, machines that understand what you’re feeling,’ he said. ‘If these robots do become as intelligent as human beings, we want this infrastructure of compassion and empathy to be in place so the machines are prepared to use their intellectual powers for the good of civilization, rather than in ways that undermine the stability of civilization.’
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