Dr Giovanni Luca Masala, an expert in AI and robotics at the University’s School of Computing, featured on ITV Meridian recently to discuss the developing technology of electronic companions. This was part of a wider feature on the concept of robot pets, with the RSPCA finding in a recent study that one quarter of people would consider purchasing one.
While advanced robot pets are some way off being easily accessible to the public, Dr Masala suggests electronic companions which have functions such as talking continuously with people and reminding people to take medicines could be more beneficial to humans.
Yet, Dr Masala explains on camera that people still have their reservations about AI and robots after mostly seeing the technology used in dramatic ways in futuristic films. Therefore, some people may still be sceptical about trusting a robotic companion in their home.
Dr Masala can also be seen in the ITV feature talking to Pepper, a humanoid robot based in the University’s Cognitive Robotics and Autonomous Systems lab, which introduces itself.
The ITV footage can be viewed here.
