Can a Robot Be a Friend?

It was time to test Kismet. Cynthia asked other people to help her. She told them, “Speak to the robot.” She wondered, would they talk to Kismet like a friend?

A volunteer sat down with Kismet. He pointed to the watch on his wrist. He said, “This is a watch that my girlfriend gave me.” Kismet looked at the watch and babbled.

Then he said, “I almost lost it this week.” Kismet’s eyes opened wide. The man told Cynthia that he felt like he was talking to a friend.

Next, a person named Anne talked to Kismet. At first, Kismet was quiet. Then Anne put her face close to Kismet. She said, “Don’t you like me?”

Kismet moved closer to Anne. Then Kismet babbled sweetly. Anne laughed.

She liked Kismet!

Cynthia asked people to talk to the robot. Would they talk to it like a friend?

A woman talked to Kismet. She put her face close. She said, “Do you like me?”

Kismet moved closer and made sounds. She laughed. The robot had acted like a friend!

It was time to test Kismet. Cynthia asked people to assist in the project. She told them, “Speak to the robot.” She wondered, would they communicate with Kismet like they would with a friend?

A volunteer sat down with Kismet. He pointed to the watch on his wrist and said, “This watch is a gift from my girlfriend.” Kismet looked at the watch and babbled.

Then he said, “I almost lost it this week.” Kismet’s eyes opened wide. The man told Cynthia that he felt like he was talking to a friend.

Next, a person named Anne talked to Kismet. At first, Kismet was quiet. Then Anne put her face close to Kismet. She said, “Don’t you like me?”

Kismet moved closer to Anne and babbled sweetly. Anne laughed. She liked Kismet!

Could Cynthia make robots that worked even better? She wanted to try!

Now Cynthia was a professor herself. She helped build a robot called Leonardo. She wanted it to look more alive than Kismet.

Leonardo had a head, arms, and a cute round belly. The robot had 32 motors in its face. The motors made Leonardo’s face move like a real person’s.

Leonardo seemed to understand what people said. When a person held up a Cookie Monster doll and said, “Can you find Cookie Monster?,” Leonardo pointed to it.

Cynthia wanted to make even better robots. One robot she made was called Leonardo. She wanted it to look more alive. Leonardo had a head and arms. His face could move like a real person’s. Leonardo seemed to understand people.

Could Cynthia make more sophisticated robots that worked even better? She wanted to try!

Now Cynthia was a professor herself, and she helped build a robot called Leonardo. She wanted it to look more alive than Kismet.

Leonardo had a head, arms, and a cute round belly. The robot had 32 motors in its face, which allowed Leonardo’s face to move like a real person’s.

Leonardo seemed to understand what people said. When a person held up a Cookie Monster doll and said, “Can you find Cookie Monster?” Leonardo pointed to it.

Some people say friendly robots can be harmful. The robots could confuse us about what is real. These people say that kids shouldn’t play with robots. They say kids should play with real people.

But Cynthia thinks robots can help us. She made a robot teddy bear called Huggable. It helps kids who are sick in the hospital.

Huggable sings songs to these kids. It plays games with them. Doctors say that kids who play with Huggable feel better.

This makes Cynthia happy. As a kid, she dreamed of making a friendly robot. She dreamed that her robot would be cute and helpful like R2-D2 from Star Wars.

She did it! She has made robots that people like to talk to. She has made robots that can help people.

But can these robots be real friends? You can decide for yourself!

Some people say friendly robots can be harmful. Other people say that kids should play only with real people.

Cynthia thinks robots can be helpful. She made a robot to help families and sick kids. It was called Huggable.

But can these robots be real friends? You can decide for yourself!

Some people say friendly robots can be harmful and cause confusion about what is real. These people say that kids shouldn’t play with robots, but only play with real people.

But Cynthia thinks robots can help us. She made a robot teddy bear called Huggable that helps kids who are sick in the hospital.

Huggable sings songs to these kids and plays games with them. Doctors say that kids who play with Huggable feel better.

This makes Cynthia happy. As a kid, she dreamed of making a friendly robot. She dreamed that her robot would be cute and helpful, like R2-D2 from Star Wars.

She did it! She has made robots that people like to talk to and she has made robots that can help people.

But can these robots be real friends? You can decide for yourself!