Robot speaks like a seasoned journo, floors AMF delegates
DUBAI — It talked like television personality and MBC’s sports journalist Mustafa Agha, but it certainly did not look like him. A robo-journalist — operated by Agha backstage — wowed the Arab Media Forum (AMF) audience on Wednesday as it answered pressing questions about the possibility of artificial intelligence-powered news readers in the future.
The region’s first robot journalist, which goes by the name A2050, flaunted its ability to report ‘tirelessly’ all day every day and be programmed to do any task. “I’m the fourth generation of robots,” it told the audience as it imitated natural human body movements, by moving its arms and eyes around. “Robots like me are beneficial to humanity and won’t threaten them, because humans would still have to programme me.”
The robot said that despite all of its “great abilities”, it cannot operate without the Internet or electricity. “The faster the Internet, the more responsive and astonishing I can be.”
A20-50 said there are other robots like him operating in the field of media, including Jiang Lailai, a stunning humanoid female robot also powered by AI, who hosts various shows with her human colleagues. Her first television appearance on January 6, 2019, attracted one billion viewers, the robot said.
It said robots are smart and “don’t need to wear a suit or go to a hair-dresser”, to laughter and applause from the crowd.
Agha pointed out the important tasks speaking robots can take up in several areas. “Robots can be very useful in cultural, educational and even entertainment programmes. They can work in airports, libraries and many different places.” However, he also warned that they can replace TV presenters in the future.
Agha referred to Estonia, a country in northern Europe, which recently announced that it would be building the first robot judge in history to help clear the high volume of small claims disputes in courts. The robot, he said, can be programmed with legal data and previous jurisprudence.
The journalist said robots may eventually be able to express emotions while presenting news, making it realistic.
Answering questions about robots having a ‘human element’, Agha said: “Robots are a machine; this machine is pre-programmed by humans. For example, now they are inventing a refrigerator that will alert the user when milk and eggs are low. You might think that it thinks on your behalf. However, you are programming it to provide you with this information.”
He had a warning, though: “All robots are programmed by humans, even the one that lands on the moon. If robots have more information than human beings can have, they could act on their own.”