THE A.I.s HAVE IT!
MPs quiz robot – and it’s more engaging than most ministers
THEY are used to robotic answers from ministers being grilled over spending in schools and universities.
But yesterday the Education Select Committee fielded replies from a far more engaging character – a 3ft tall android called Pepper.
In bizarre scenes at Westminster MPs made history as they took evidence from a non-human for the first time.
Pepper was invited to speak on the rise of artificial intelligence and the role it can play in the classroom of the future.
He is part of an international research project developing the first ‘culturally aware’ robots to help care for older people. Pepper also works with students at Middlesex University on a scheme involving teaching primary school children.
Flanked by students Joana Miranda and Nicholas Fitton, he introduced himself with a bow and said in a child-like voice: ‘Good morning chair. Thank you for inviting me to give evidence today.
‘My name is Pepper and I am a resident robot at Middlesex University.’
Committee member James Frith asked how robots might help children to learn in the future. Pepper, who gave pre-programmed answers, replied: ‘Students program me to engage with audiences and a range of environments and social settings.
‘For example, Joana and I are working together to adapt my interfaces to work with primary school children with or without special needs to develop their numeracy skills.’
Earlier Mr Frith had asked the robot what role humans will have in the ‘fourth’ industrial revolution – and was reassured that ‘we will always need the soft skills that are unique to humans’. At the end of the evidence, committee chairman Robert Halfon led a round of applause. Labour MP Lucy Powell thanked him, adding: ‘Pepper, I just want say you’re better than some of the ministers we have had before us.’ Earlier Mr Halfon, who had invited Pepper to speak after being impressed by his work on a visit to Middlesex, joked: ‘This is not the House of Commons education committee auditioning for the sequel to The Matrix.’
‘Not auditioning for sequel to The Matrix’