New robot has basic social skills

JUDY LIN

Associated Press Writer

GRACE


PITTSBURGH (AP) – A 6-foot-tall robot that courteously steps aside

for people, smiles during conversation and politely asks directions shouldn’t be blamed for being too eager to please.

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The robot, named GRACE (short for Graduate Robot Attending Conference), will wander a symposium on artificial intelligence that begins this weekend, where it will demonstrate basic human social skills.

It will try to sign in at the registration desk, find a conference room, give a speech and answer questions.

GRACE, a drum-shaped contraption with a digitally animated face that appears on a computer display, is the work of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and elsewhere.

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