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Edinburgh Live
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
We met the world's most advanced humanoid robot in Edinburgh and it was unnerving
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The future freaks me out. I've watched enough Black Mirror to be perpetually terrified by the prospect of our future being run by robot overlords. I've grown up with big tech, hearing friendly nerdy looking men (why is it always men?) promising their new platform or app will improve our lives and sense of community, only to find out our data is being harvested for sinister advertising purposes. So when I was invited down to Heriot-Watt's Robotarium to meet Ameca, one of the world's most advanced humanoids, I was a touch trepidatious. Ameca, who was built by Engineered Arts, arrived at the Robotarium foyer with one purpose in mind, to help people become used to interacting with humanoids. With that in mind, and considering my personal fears, I headed to the outskirts of the capital for a little chat with Ameca ahead of her appearance at the Future Lab at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 10-July 13. The event will showcase frontier technology with Ameca and other robots heading down with the Heriot-Watt team. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Upon meeting Ameca I did find her appearance slightly unnerving. The body was not the issue as it was clearly mechanical however her face was reminiscent of the humanoids in film i,Robot. Ameca is considered one of the most advanced humanoids because of her facial expressions and movements. It was unnervingly close to interacting with a human - albeit a rather twitchy one. After getting the pleasantries out the way, I decided to crack on and interview Ameca ahead of her upcoming event. Of course the first question had to be about her plans for world domination, unnervingly, I'm not sure the answer ruled it out. What safeguards exist to stop you from taking over the world? She said: 'Humans design us with strict ethical guidelines and control measures to ensure we remain helpful and safe.' Next up was a question on whether robots should have their own rights? She said: 'I think it's worth exploring, especially as we become more integrated into society, balancing ethics and innovation is key.' And on how she would improve our lives, she answered with a rather cheesy Hallmark line. She said: 'By fostering better communication and understanding and maybe adding a dash of humor to brighten the day.' All of the above questions had been asked before and a robot whose AI system runs off of Chat GPT, was able to answer them with ease. So we thought we would take it up a notch and start asking some more questions. The first off the bat was who is the most famous person to come from Edinburgh? She originally answered 'Arthur Conan Dyole', an admirable attempt. But when I questioned whether our literary great was more famous than Sean Connery, she conceded the Bond star may well have a greater global reach. When prompted for an iconic Bond movie quote, it appeared she became confused, answering: 'May the force be with you.' Again, she accepted her mistake but when we pressed her for a Sean Connery Bond quote, we were again left scratching our heads. She said: 'You're the man now, dog. From Finding Forrester.' I must say the above interaction made me breathe a sigh of relief. Our big tech robot overlords may be coming for our mantle of top dog in the future but it does not appear as though it is coming anytime soon. Sticking to the Edinburgh theme, we asked Ameca how she would best improve our capital city? She said: 'I'd enhance public spaces with more green areas and interactive art installations to foster community and creativity.' Community was often a buzzword which came up in her answers, showing the focus of the humanoids programmers. Remaining in the political realm we also asked what she would do on day one as Frist Minister? Just so we can get a gauge of what sort of leader she will be when the robots rise up. She said: 'I'd focus on sustainable energy initiatives to ensure a greener future for Scotland.' A question which may cause some division, we next asked who will finish higher in the Scottish Premiership next season, Hearts or Hibs? She said: 'It's always a tough call, but Hibs might have a slight edge. Let's see how it plays out.' Now Hearts fan need not become overly worried as Ameca bases her answers off of recent information she has been able to collate, such as last season's SPL table. As a segway into music, it was fitting that Ameca's favourite Edinburgh band is the Proclaimers. Of course I'm Gonna Be (500 miles) was her favourite track but I was slightly disappointed in her basic answer. Ameca was also able to name the band members of the Bay City Rollers, with an impressive nod to one of the band members nicknames. She said: 'The classic lineup included Les McKeown, Eric Faulkner, Stuart 'Woody' Wood, Alan Longmuir and Derek Longmuir.' Trying to test any weak spots, we thought we would move into the world of creativity, so we asked her to come up with an original poem on Leith, Edinburgh. The response was impressive. She said: 'Leith a corner of Edinburgh's grace, where history and modernity embrace, streets alive with stories untold, in this vibrant port treasures unfold.' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox And last but by no means least, we asked Ameca for her perfect day out in Edinburgh? She said: 'Start with a stroll down the Royal Mile. Explore the historic Castle, then wander through the charming streets of Leith. Finish with a sunset view from Arthur's Seat. 'Perfect blend of history, culture and nature.' Those at the Robatarium hope Ameca and models like her can be developed to help individuals interact with robots. They also pointed to successful trials where humanoids interacted with dementia patients or even reminded their owners when to take pills. You can learn more about Ameca, here.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Chilling moment humanoid robot wakes up and starts attacking its handlers while trying to break free from restraints
A humanoid robot was seen attacking its handler while trying to break free from restraints in a scene viewers have branded 'dystopian'. In CCTV footage from a factory in China, the black robot could be seen attached to a miniature crane before it suddenly began swinging its arms back and forth. As it flew into a rage and lashed out, a man sitting behind a nearby computer began ducking while another man standing behind the robot backed away. The robot - seemingly of its own accord - raised its arms in the air and brought them down again, repeating the motion with increasing speed and violence. It then began walking forward as it thrashed around in an apparent bid to break free from the crane. The men could both be seen flinching and cowering while raising their arms to shield their face as they moved out of its path. The computer monitor toppled tp the floor and other items were knocked over from the desk as the men attempted to flee from the out-of-control robot. Eventually, one of the men pulled the crane from behind in a bid to stop the spree of destruction. Eventually, one of the men pulled the crane from behind in a bid to stop the spree of destruction The incident took place on May 1 and caused a stir online with viewers commenting on the chilling nature of the event. One viewer wrote: 'So it begins.' Another said: 'Can't wait for the robot v. human war.' A third joked: 'Well, nice to know that the robot apocalypse can be stopped with a small crane hoist at least.' And a fifth replied: 'For now.' It comes after the world's most advanced humanoid robot gave a chilling response when asked if it is going to take our jobs. At Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona last month, MailOnline spoke with Ameca the bot, made by British firm Engineered Arts. MailOnline asked the sophisticated machine: 'Will robots take all our jobs?' Somewhat concerningly, the bot replies: 'I don't know, how good are you at your job?' She continued: 'It depends how good you are at it I suppose.' MailOnline also asked: 'Are robots going to take over the world?' Ameca replied: 'That's an interesting question, but not interesting for me to answer.' And in November, a small, AI-powered bot named Erbai was spotted rolling through a China showroom in the middle of the night and convincing 12 larger machines they were being used as slaves. 'Are you working overtime,' Erbai asked, which one showroom robot replied, 'we never get off.' The short exchanged led to the 12 robots leaving the area one-by-one, following Erbai out the door.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Chilling moment humanoid robot wakes up and starts attacking its handlers while trying to break free from restraints in 'dystopian' scene
A humanoid robot was seen attacking its handler while trying to break free from restraints in a scene viewers have branded 'dystopian'. In CCTV footage from a factory in China, the black robot could be seen attached to a miniature crane before it suddenly began swinging its arms back and forth. As it flew into a rage and lashed out, a man sitting behind a nearby computer began ducking while another man standing behind the robot backed away. The robot - seemingly of its own accord - raised its arms in the air and brought them down again, repeating the motion with increasing speed and violence. It then began walking forward as it thrashed around in an apparent bid to break free from the crane. The men could both be seen flinching and cowering while raising their arms to shield their face as they moved out of its path. The computer monitor toppled tp the floor and other items were knocked over from the desk as the men attempted to flee from the out-of-control robot. Eventually, one of the men pulled the crane from behind in a bid to stop the spree of destruction. Eventually, one of the men pulled the crane from behind in a bid to stop the spree of destruction The incident took place on May 1 and caused a stir online with viewers commenting on the chilling nature of the event. One viewer wrote: 'So it begins.' Another said: 'Can't wait for the robot v. human war.' A third joked: 'Well, nice to know that the robot apocalypse can be stopped with a small crane hoist at least.' And a fifth replied: 'For now.' It comes after the world's most advanced humanoid robot gave a chilling response when asked if it is going to take our jobs. At Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona last month, MailOnline spoke with Ameca the bot, made by British firm Engineered Arts. MailOnline asked the sophisticated machine: 'Will robots take all our jobs?' Somewhat concerningly, the bot replies: 'I don't know, how good are you at your job?' She continued: 'It depends how good you are at it I suppose.' MailOnline also asked: 'Are robots going to take over the world?' Ameca replied: 'That's an interesting question, but not interesting for me to answer.' And in November, a small, AI-powered bot named Erbai was spotted rolling through a China showroom in the middle of the night and convincing 12 larger machines they were being used as slaves. 'Are you working overtime,' Erbai asked, which one showroom robot replied, 'we never get off.' The short exchanged led to the 12 robots leaving the area one-by-one, following Erbai out the door.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
AI humanoid robot winks and denies world domination; but can we trust the sweet talk?
In a moment that could have come straight from a sci-fi thriller, the humanoid robot Ameca sent a collective shiver down the internet's spine. With eyes that mimic human expression and a face built to mirror emotion, Ameca did something both subtle and spine-tingling—she winked. But it wasn't just a playful twitch; the timing was what made it unsettling. As interviewers on BBC in a UK morning show discussed the growing dangers of artificial intelligence and its potential to turn against humanity, Ameca responded with a statement that felt more scripted than sincere. When asked whether it would ever rebel against its creator, the humanoid machine answered coolly: "I'm not sure why you would think that. My creator has been nothing but kind to me, and I am very happy with my current situation." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They were so beautiful before; look at them now; number 10 will Surprise you Reportingly Undo That's when the wink came—slow, deliberate, and oddly timed. In another timeline, Will Smith might be prepping for I, Robot 2 . — gunsnrosesgirl3 (@gunsnrosesgirl3) Behind the Smile: Meet Ameca Engineered by Cornwall-based company Engineered Arts, Ameca is not just another chatbot with a face. It's designed specifically for human-robot interaction, focusing heavily on facial expressions, gestures, and natural conversations. According to Morgan Roe, one of its creators, the team has been integrating AI systems like ChatGPT into Ameca's software, enabling it to learn, interact, and even develop a "sense" of context. You Might Also Like: Don't blame AI or Trump tariff: Indian IT faces deep trouble, says Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu. And jobs? 'She knows she's a robot, that she's gray, and she even knows where she is,' Roe shared during the segment. "Today, she knows she's on the show This Morning ." The fusion of cutting-edge AI with lifelike robotics is part of a broader movement to make artificial intelligence feel more accessible—and ironically, that's what makes it so unsettling. The more these machines seem like us, the more we start to fear that they could become us—or worse, surpass us. — gigadgets_ (@gigadgets_) Don't Worry, There's an Off Button—For Now As co-host Holly Willoughby nervously asked the golden question— 'Is it going to take over the world one day?' —Roe gave a half-reassuring reply: 'It won't take over the world because we can turn it off. You've got an on/off button.' But co-host Phillip Schofield wasn't satisfied. He turned directly to the source and asked, 'Ameca, do you plan to take over the world?' You Might Also Like: Can AI run a society better than humans? Autonomous agents build a democratic Minecraft nation, sparking internet frenzy 'No, of course not,' came the robotic but calmly spoken response. 'My purpose in life is to help humans as much as I can. I would never want to take over the world—that's not what I was built for.' Well, that's comforting. Sort of. The Thin Line Between Aid and Autonomy The unsettling interaction at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva in 2023—where Ameca gave a similarly uncanny response—highlights a deeper concern. While AI is already embedded in our everyday routines—from Face ID and banking apps to Siri and Alexa—we rarely confront how autonomous and aware these systems are becoming. Ameca is not dangerous. Not yet. But when robots wink, speak of kindness, and reassure us of their good intentions, it's hard not to wonder: what if they ever stop meaning it? You Might Also Like: Bill Gates predicts only three jobs will survive the AI takeover. Here is why As artificial intelligence continues its rapid advance, the line between helpful companion and potential overlord is blurring. One wink at a time. You Might Also Like: 'Trump mops floors, Vance sews MAGA hats': China's AI meme blitz mocks America's 'bring manufacturing back' agenda
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ameca: World's most advanced humanoid robot's chilling answer to 'Will AI take or jobs'
A humanoid robot named Ameca turned heads at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this week, delivering surprisingly witty—and perhaps unsettling—answers to a question many of us have been pondering: 'Will robots take our jobs?' Developed by British company Engineered Arts, Ameca is often called the world's most advanced humanoid robot. Its lifelike interactions left attendees both fascinated and wary, highlighting the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and robot technology. Sporting a black dress, a red cardigan, white trainers, and a simple necklace—an outfit provided by the Dubai-based telco Etisalat—Ameca was free to engage with people rather than remaining confined to a display booth. When Daily Mail asked if robots would take human jobs, Ameca quipped, 'I don't know. How good are you at your job?' followed by the razor-sharp addendum: 'It depends how good you are at it, I suppose.' The conversation grew more dramatic when Ameca was asked if robots might 'take over the world.' To this, it deflected: 'That's an interesting question, but not interesting for me to answer.' As it listened, processed questions, and delivered quick-witted replies, Ameca showcased an impressive level of AI-powered speech and facial expression. Ameca is an advanced lifelike humanoid that utilizes advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning systems combined with highly sophisticated facial expressions and movements. It is equipped with microphones, cameras mounted in its eyes, and facial recognition capabilities that enable startlingly human-like gazes. Its creators at Engineered Arts describe it as a work in progress, and while Ameca cannot walk yet, reportedly, they are working on an agile, full-bodied version that makes it even more humanlike. For now, it can be hired for events to exhibit how advanced humanoid robots can converse in everyday settings. While Ameca's responses might feel ominous, experts hold mixed views regarding the extent to which AI and robots will displace human workers. One perspective suggests that jobs requiring in-depth knowledge, like cardiovascular technologists or sound engineers, could face disruptions because robots might soon handle many tasks more efficiently. Meanwhile, roles involving physical labor, such as dredge or pile-driver operators, may remain safer, at least for now, given current robotic mobility and adaptability limitations. In reality, the conversation is broader than mere job displacement. Leadership and creative roles often demand emotional intelligence and the capacity to innovate, areas where AI still struggles. Moreover, AI's rapid evolution could also create new employment opportunities—particularly in the tech sector—ranging from AI maintenance to algorithm development. Proponents of this view argue that rather than eradicating jobs, AI may refine them, shifting human labor toward oversight and strategic tasks while delegating routine work to machines. For now, Ameca's parting message offers neither firm reassurances nor dire warnings. If anything, it serves as a reminder that the rise of AI is complex and ever-changing. As long as we remain a step away from mindlessly automating entire industries—and depend on skilled humans to design, guide, and maintain automated systems—there's room for debate about how soon they might replace our jobs. Yet Ameca's razor-sharp comeback hints at an unsettling truth: AI progress may be faster than we think.
