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Russian State TV Shows Off 'Robot' That's Actually a Man In a Robot Suit (gizmodo.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the tom-foolery dept.

A "hi-tech robot" shown on Russian state television turns out to be a man in a suit. While airing footage of a technology forum aimed at kids, a Russian state TV reporter proclaimed that Boris the robot "has already learned to dance and he's not that bad." Gizmodo reports: This "robot" actually retails for 250,000 rubles (about $3,770), as first reported by the Guardian, and is made by a company called Show Robots. "Boris" features glowing eyes, and plastic parts -- and shockingly human-like movements. Probably because he needs a human inside to operate properly. This faux-robot (fauxbot?) mystery was actually first unraveled when some eagled-eyed Russian viewers on the internet noticed that a suspiciously human-like neck was showing in the video. The report notes that "there's no indication" that there was intent to deceive anyone. Instead, it "appears to be a case of a TV presenter getting confused with what he believed to be 'modern robots.'" You can watch the broadcast on Russia-24's YouTube channel.

6 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Thank you very much by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

    We are now living in an Andy Kaufman sketch.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Thank you very much by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

      I can't help but it feels more like the world is turning into a Monty Python skit, complete with Terry Gilliam's art. I'm honestly waiting for a large, naked foot to stomp me.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. But by nospam007 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can he spread fake news, like a real Russian bot?

  3. It's like an old joke coming to life by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

    Where the Soviets showcase the glorious developments of Russian ingenuity in an international display of new appliances, where they demo a potato peeling machine. Demonstrating it to the politburo, the inventor picks up a potato from a bucket, throws it into the machine and a few seconds of working very quietly later, a peeled potato is thrown out of the machine. An apparatchik is overwhelmed with joy, takes the bucket and dumps it into the machine, which prompts a rustling and a small door opens where an old babushka looks out and cries "Please, not so many, I'm alone this week".

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  4. Seriously by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's a kids show. Here's a spoiler for you - the big purple dinosaur called Barney is also (gasp!) a dude in a suit.

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    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  5. What's next? by Plus1Entropy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Humans pretending to be Russian robots?

    What's next, Russian bots pretending to be human?

    --
    Only crack the nuts that crack. You don't put the ones that don't crack in the sack.