A Swiss humanoid robot capable of displaying the faces of world leaders and business executives was showcased at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva on Tuesday (7 July). Developers said the technology could make human-machine interactions more natural and expressive.
"Robert the Robot", developed by Geneva-based start-up RB Labs, appeared with the likenesses of President Donald Trump, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former U.S. President Barack Obama projected onto a digital screen that serves as its face.
Unlike many humanoid robots with fixed, expressionless features, Robert uses a screen to display different identities and emotions, allowing it to smile, react and communicate non-verbally with users.
"We create expressive robots designed for communication," RB Labs co-founder Robin Krambroeckers said. "Communication happens largely through non-verbal cues, and that is crucial when interacting with a robot."
Robert was presented to visitors attending the United Nations-backed AI for Good Summit, where attendees stopped to take photographs and interact with the machine. The robot's digital face can be changed instantly, enabling it to mimic different people while clearly remaining a robot.
Also on display at the summit, researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) demonstrated robotic furniture designed to assist older people and those with limited mobility.
The project features tables and other household items mounted on mobile robotic platforms that can move autonomously around a room. Users can rearrange layouts through a tablet interface or ask the furniture to clear a path through cluttered spaces.
The concept stems from research into "mobile assistive agents" that allow furniture to follow users, fetch objects or reorganise themselves to suit changing needs.
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