Japanese roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro has spent nearly two decades creating android replicas of himself, with his sixth and most realistic version yet, the Geminoid HI-6.
Currently displayed at his lab at Osaka University, Geminoid HI-6 is the most advanced, featuring AI-powered conversational abilities and an extensive knowledge base, having been integrated with a large language model and trained on ten of Ishiguro’s books and numerous interviews.
“I was using this robot for giving lectures when I was busy,” Ishiguro told CNBC. “But now, after the lectures, this Geminoid HI-6 can answer the questions given by an audience.” This advancement allows the bot to respond to audiences and handle inquiries on its creator’s behalf.
The lifelike design of Geminoid HI-6 is striking, with a silicone skin that Ishiguro says feels close to human skin. The robot’s facial expressions are modeled after Ishiguro’s, allowing it to respond with a convincing degree of realism. However, it is currently unable to walk, though Ishiguro aims to equip it with bipedal capabilities soon.
In addition to his personal android, Ishiguro has also developed other humanoid robots, including a front-desk receptionist robot named “Erica,” which can autonomously or remotely interact with visitors. Ishiguro believes that this kind of human-robot interaction will help foster more meaningful relationships with robots in society.
For Ishiguro, crafting realistic robots is about more than just technological advancement. It’s a step towards a future where humanoid robots are socially integrated. “If we expect to have better relationships with a robot, it’s quite important to feel intimacy to the robot, to accept the robot as our social member,” he explained to CNBC.
Geminoid HI-6’s debut marks a significant milestone in the evolution of humanoid robots, bringing us closer to a future where robot interactions might be as commonplace as those with humans.
