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.
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examini...
Prosecutors in Paraguay have charged former President Santiago Peña and ex-central bank chief Carlos Carvallo Spalding over the collapse of ...
The U.S. military has established a new unit to stop Iran transporting advanced weapons systems via its land borders and the Caspian Sea. ...
Democrats' sweeping victory in the U.S. midterm elections has sent technology stocks plunging, as investors fear tougher AI regulations could slow infrastructure development and threaten the boom that has driven market gains this year.
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examining possible far-right influences and the discovery of three bodies at the suspect's home.
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted a breakthrough in efforts to end the war in Ukraine after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, ahead of U.S.-mediated peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November.
Two people, including a child, were killed and 16 others injured when an intercity bus crashed in eastern France on Friday morning, authorities confirmed.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed to fight attempts to impeach him, dismissing the growing campaign against him as politically motivated amid mounting criticism of his handling of the war in Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would support states seeking to generate wealth through artificial intelligence, pledging to work with them as Democrats outlined plans to address the technology following Tuesday’s elections, which unsettled markets.
Dubai will host GITEX Global 2026 from 7 to 11 December, bringing together global technology leaders, governments and investors as surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) puts pressure on energy supplies, computing capacity and digital infrastructure.
Saudi Aramco's acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in artificial intelligence (AI) company HUMAIN is putting a spotlight on a wider investment question: why are some of the world's biggest energy companies moving deeper into AI, and what do they expect to gain?
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
Two of the United States' largest technology companies reported robust revenue growth in their latest quarterly results, underscoring the continued impact of artificial intelligence and cloud computing on the sector.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment