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Robot Receptionist with an Attitude

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the bringing-you-more-hecklers dept.

techno-vampire writes "Carnegie Mellon University is experimenting with a robot receptionist with a personality. The article on NPR tells about the receptionist, named Tank. Tank lives in a computer, with a Frankenstein-like face showing on the monitor. He responds to typed-in questions, including personal ones, with a rather curious personality courtesy of the Drama Department. Among other things, he doesn't seem to like his boss, Dr. Reid Simmons, very much. If asked, Tank will tell you he's also worked at NASA, and failed as a satellite robot. A job at the CIA was also a bust. Dr. Simmons explains that they're trying to make it easier for people to interact with robots, and upgrades are planned."

4 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. In the near future... by Red+Samurai · · Score: 4, Funny

    We'll all have robots pissing in our coffee...

  2. Great! by jacobcaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Our receptionist is already surly and a bit gruff, we can replace her with "Tank" and dramatically increase our gruffness-to-customer ratio! We'll also be able to irritate our customers 24x7 instead of the normal 8x5 we currently get out of our receptionist!

  3. now with... by PoPRawkZ · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now with genuine people personality! I'm so depressed.

    --
    peace,
    -Grokent
  4. Re:Starship Titanic, anyone? by seldrick · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just don't put this kind of thing in any kind of mission-critical function... No kidding. This great "productivity saver" is going to cost a fortune before it saves a dime. Everyone in the office will be neglecting their work to queue up to play with the secretary. I've worked at offices like that, but she was a flirty, hot 19 -year old instead of a box with a Frankenstein face. At least Tank won't need maternity leave.