Unsplash | Markus Spiske

Humanlike Robot Turns Down Man Who Tries To Flirt With Her

There have been a number of movies, books, shows, media in general that depict a human-robot or human-AI relationship, all with varying degrees of success. A future where that's even possible has always seemed distant, but it may be closer than we think.

Well, it would be if the robots weren't turning down the human advances, like robotics project Ameca does in this viral TikTok.

It can take a lot of courage to express pursue someone romantically.

Unsplash | Jack Finnigan

Whether it be making that first move and sending a complimentary text, or taking larger steps by asking someone out, the whole ordeal is nerve-wracking.

And, of course, it doesn't always go the way you're hoping. That was the case for one convention-goer earlier this month.

Lifelike robot Ameca was on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Developed by Engineered Arts, she's described as "the world’s most advanced human shaped robot representing the forefront of human-robotics technology.

Designed specifically as a platform for development into future robotics technologies, Ameca is the perfect humanoid robot platform for human-robot interaction."

This was certainly the case at the show.

In a TikTok that's now gone viral with over 16 million views, Ameca is seen chatting to a crowd of onlookers. She first acknowledges the person who uploaded this clip, saying she can see the rabbit ears they're wearing.

Then, another patron pipes up.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asks the robot.

"I do not have a boyfriend," Ameca is quick to reply, "Are you asking for a friend?"

"I'm asking for me," the man replies, after which the camera pans over to him, showing a badge that reveals his name as Justin.

"I see," she muses in an almost sly tone.

But then, she dashes this young man's dreams by saying, "Unfortunately, I am not on the market. Robots do not have relations."

She then turns the question back on Justin and puts him on the spot, asking, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

This gets a laugh from not only Justin, but the whole crowd.

"She's got jokes!" someone else can be heard saying.

In response to Justin's silence, Ameca continues. "I'll take that as a yes," she says, which prompts another round of laughter.

Justin looks like he can't believe what he's hearing, and the video ends with a slow zoom on Ameca's face.

The display is not only hilarious, but impressive too!

Egineered Arts' website details the different systems they have in place to allow robots like Ameca to function. This includes automated speech recognition software as well as "computer vision" which helps her see faces and other objects.

They also reveal that any conversations that take place more than likely have a human operator for, as they put it, "Human intelligence will still beat artificial intelligence every time."

Ameca's quick responses and clever wit required the work of a lot of people.

She surely wowed tons at CSE this year as a standout development!

Though maybe guys like Justin should wait just a little while longer before trying to score a date with a robot, the technology just isn't quite there yet.

h/t: Unilad

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