Mechanical and clunky ... now meet the robot
For Parliament, it was a historic – and surreal – first. The MPS of the education select committee were about to question… a robot. Yes, really. An actual robot.
Clunky, mechanical, and programmed with simple sound bites, the MPS couldn’t wait to get started.
Into the committee room, the robot trundled. She (we were told she was a she) was 3ft tall, with huge flashing eyes, glowing blue ears and a mildly disconcerting smile. On the table reserved for witnesses was a little sign bearing her name, Pepper. Along with her handlers – two students from the robotics department of Middlesex University – Pepper had been invited to answer questions on the future of artificial intelligence. She had, apparently, been fed the questions in advance, so that she – or her handlers – could prepare her answers.
Silently, she drew up behind the table and waited. Robert Halfon, the committee’s chairman, gave his guest an encouraging smile.
“Pepper!” began Mr Halfon, brightly. “Could you please introduce yourself?”
The robot fixed him with her alarming gaze.
“Good morning, chair!” she chirped, in a jaunty American accent.
She performed a small bow, then resumed.
“Thank you for inviting me to give evidence today,” she went on, waving her hands merrily. “My name is Pepper and I’m the resident robot at Middlesex University!” There followed a brief, uncertain silence.
“And what is your role at Middlesex University?” asked Mr Halfon, politely.
“Another robot similar to me but with a different software,” chirped Pepper, “is part of an international three-year research project called Caresses, which is jointly funded by the EU and the Japanese government, in the Horizon 2020 research programme!”
The robot chattered unstoppably on, in similar vein, for more than a minute. Her answer was somewhat rambling and its relevance to the question not always clear. But then, I suppose the committee is used to that sort of thing.
James Frith (Lab, Bury North) sought to catch the robot’s eye. “WHAT… IS THE ROLE… OF HUMANS… IN THE FOURTH… INDUSTRIAL… REVOLUTION?” he asked, loudly and slowly.
If the robot felt patronised, she was gracious enough not say so. “We will always need the ‘soft’ skills that are unique to humans!” she replied, generously.
The committee looked suitably relieved.
After five minutes, Mr Halfon thanked the robot for her time, and the committee began questioning her handlers. Warily, I kept an eye on the robot. There seemed to be an intriguing pattern to her behaviour.
While her handlers were speaking, she would nod enthusiastically. Yet, when the MPS were speaking, she would fidget or stare into space. At one point, in fact, her head started to droop, as if she were nodding off.
At that moment in particular, she seemed chillingly lifelike.