Now even robots will laugh at jokes
Tokyo: A robot has been taught to laugh at jokes to increase its human likeness.
Researchers at Kyoto University in Japan are using artificial intelligence to train robots to recognize appropriate laughter and distinguish between laughter and high-pitched screams.
In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Robotics and AI, researchers say they are working with a robot named Erica in hopes of making conversations with robots more natural.
Dr. Koji Inoue, assistant professor at Kyoto University’s Department of Intelligence Science and Technology and lead author of the study, said the researchers believe empathy is one of the main goals of artificial intelligence communication.
According to him, there are many dimensions to a conversation apart from giving a correct answer. So the scientists decided that one way to empathize with the robot’s user could be to exchange laughs, which you can’t do with a chatbot.
The researchers used artificial intelligence to create a shared laughter model to help identify laughter and decide whether to laugh and what type of laughter would be appropriate for the occasion.
The test consisted of four rounds of two- to three-minute conversations between Erica and real people, with good results.
However, according to experts, more work is needed to create an authentic laughing situation.
