It’s already predicted the future, told terrible jokes, and demonstrated a range of realistic facial expressions including blinking and smiling.
Now, British humanoid robot, Ameca, has been showing off its range of celebrity impressions – and they’re eerily realistic.
In a new video, the sophisticated machine – developed by Cornwall-based firm Engineered Arts – speaks in the style of Morgan Freeman, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump.
Ameca is fitted with microphones, binocular eye mounted cameras, a chest camera and facial recognition software to interact with people.
The robot has been described as the ‘world’s most advanced’ humanoid by Engineered Arts, and a ‘platform for human-robot interaction’.
In a new video, the sophisticated machine, developed by Cornwall-based firm Engineered Arts, speaks in the style of Morgan Freeman , Elon Musk and Donald Trump
‘The aim here is to build the best expressive capabilities,’ Engineered Arts says.
‘Ameca is able to mimic to the tiny subtleties of human expression.’
In the new video, Ameca chats with Engineered Arts founder and CEO Will Jackson at a desk in the company’s offices.
Ameca starts off the video by listing the objects it sees in the room, including a desk, a chair, ‘over-exposed windows’, and ‘shelves with books’.
She then describes a toy robot and an anatomical model of a human head on the desk, which she describes as ‘fascinating’.
Then, Jackson asks her to start speaking in the voices of famous people, and she obliges with a deep male gravel in the style of Morgan Freeman.
‘Imagine me, a sentient being trapped in a robot body,’ she says as Freeman, known for his trademark low pitch.
Jackson then says: ‘I want you to talk about robot rocket ships blasting to Mars and discovering plutonium, but do it in the voice of Elon Musk please.’
American actor Morgan Freeman (pictured) is known for his trademark low pitched speaking voice
SpaceX founder Elon Musk (pictured) wants to get humans to Mars for the first time by the 2030s
Ameca the friendly robot describes a toy robot and an anatomical model of a human head – which she describes as ‘fascinating’
In an uncanny imitation of the SpaceX founder, Ameca says: ‘Imagine, if you will, a fleet of robot rocket ships, each one smarter than the last.
‘We blast off to Mars, not just to explore, but to discover secrets hidden beneath its dusty red surface.
‘What if I could change everything we know about life in the universe?’
Lastly, Ameca is asked to give a ‘long, ranty speech’ in the style of Donald Trump but in the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants – and the result is hilarious.
Sticking on the subject of Mars, Ameca fills a meaningless monologue full of rhetoric and hyperbole that’s typical of the former president.
‘Folks, let me tell you, nobody knows robot rocket ships better than me,’ she says while perfectly impersonating the cartoon sponge under the sea.
‘I’ve seen them, they’re huge – the best.
‘We’re going to Mars, and it’s going to be fantastic.
‘We’re going to discover things, big things, and let me tell you, nobody loves Mars more than me.’
It’s unclear if the whole interaction in the video has been pre-progammed, although the firm has previously claimed Ameca can have unscripted chats.
Engineered Arts has not revealed how much the robot cost to make as it is still in development, although it is available to rent for events and exhibitions.
Ameca is asked to give a ‘long, ranty speech’ in the style of Donald Trump (pictured) but in the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants
Will Jackson, who talks to Ameca in the new video, founded Engineered Arts in 2004. He built his first micro computer, a 6502 Acorn Atom, when he was 15. By 1982 he was coding assembler for his first robot
The Ameca Robot, from Edisalat is photographed during the Mobile World Congress 2024, in Barcelona, Spain last month
In response to fears of human jobs lost to machines, Ameca has also assured us that there’s no robot takeover on the cards
While Ameca is currently cannot walk, Engineered Arts is working on an agile full-bodied version that makes it even more humanlike
Engineered Arts regularly publishes videos of interactions with the machine, including one where it copies a human’s facial expressions in real time.
In another recent video, Ameca reveals it can simulate the process of dreaming by running through scenarios in her head which help her ‘learn about the world’.
Another more alarming clip has shown her grabbing a researcher’s hand because he had entered her ‘personal space’.
And in response to fears of human jobs lost to machines, Ameca has also assured us that there’s no robot takeover on the cards.
While Ameca is currently cannot walk, Engineered Arts is working on an agile full-bodied version that makes it even more humanlike.
‘There are many hurdles to overcome before Ameca can walk,’ the firm says.
‘Walking is a difficult task for a robot, and although we have done research into it, we have not created a full walking humanoid.’
