Over the past 18 years, Japanese inventor Hiroshi Ishiguro has created six robot clones of himself, each progressively resembling him more closely.
His latest creation, named Geminoid HI-6, is a lifelike teleoperated android that mimics his physical appearance. The robot is currently showcased in his lab at Osaka University. According to Ishiguro, the robot is designed to assist him with work by handling tasks that he doesn't have time for.
"The main feature of this version is its conversational abilities. We integrated it with a large language model and then added ten of my books along with nearly all of my media interviews. Initially, I used this robot to deliver lectures when I was busy. But now, after lectures, Geminoid HI-6 can answer questions from the audience," Hiroshi Ishiguro said in an interview with CNBC.
The robot closely imitates his appearance and is also capable of replicating facial expressions.
"The skin is made of silicone. The sensation is very close to that of real human skin."
At this stage, Ishiguro's creation cannot walk, but he hopes to develop a "bipedal mechanism" for it soon. The voice of Geminoid HI-6 also does not perfectly match that of the original.
"If we hope to have better relationships with robots, it is very important to feel a closeness to the robot and accept it as a member of our society."
Making the android as human-like as possible is Ishiguro's main objective. He and his colleagues aspire to a future where interaction with humanoid robots becomes commonplace. Previously, the inventor showcased an android named "Erica" at a reception of which people can manage remotely, or which can interact with visitors autonomously.
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