The idea of lending your face to a robot may sound like the plot from an episode of Black Mirror, but it could soon become a reality.
Robot manufacturer Promobot is seeking a face for its next humanoid robot, which will be used in hotels, shopping malls and airports from 2023.
The firm is offering a whopping £150,000 ($200,000) to the brave volunteer, who must be willing to transfer the rights to use of their face forever.
Robot manufacturer Promobot is seeking a face for its next humanoid robot, which will be used in hotels, shopping malls and airports from 2023
The firm is offering a whopping £150,000 ($200,000) to the brave volunteer, who must be willing to transfer the rights to use of their face forever
Promobot is a New York based robot manufacturer, known for its eerily realistic humanoid robots.
Its robots are already being used in 43 countries, working across a range of roles including administrators, promoters, consultants, guides and concierges.
Promobot said: ‘Our company is developing technologies in the field of facial recognition, as well speech, autonomous navigation, artificial intelligence and other areas of robotics.
‘Since 2019, we have been actively manufacturing and supplying humanoid robots to the market.
‘Our new clients want to launch a large-scale project, and as for this, they need to license a new robot appearance to avoid legal delays.’
In its latest campaign, the tech firm is seeking someone with a ‘kind and friendly’ face, to be used on a humanoid robot-assistant.
In its latest campaign, the tech firm is seeking someone with a ‘kind and friendly’ face, to be used on a humanoid robot-assistant
While Promobot has specified that the volunteer must have a ‘kind and friendly’ face, it is open to applications from people of any gender and age
The robot has been commissioned by an unnamed US company, and will be used in airports, shopping malls and retail stores across North America and the Middle East.
‘A robot with a new appearance will start its activities in 2023, and a selected person’s face will become this robot’s appearance,’ Promobot explained.
While Promobot has specified that the volunteer must have a ‘kind and friendly’ face, it is open to applications from people of any gender and age.
Promobot has not said why it is seeking to use a real face, rather than opting for a computer generated face – much like the famous humanoid robot Sophia
Promobot has not said why it is seeking to use a real face, rather than opting for a computer generated face – much like the famous humanoid robot Sophia.
This isn’t the first time that a robotics manufacturer has offered to pay someone for the rights to their face.
Back in 2019, an unamed robotics firm offered a £100,000 reward to a volunteer for the use of their face.
Speaking at the time, Kate Devlin, an AI and robotics expert, questioned why a real face was being used.
‘I’m cool with the whole friendly robot thing, btw,’ she said. ‘But I can’t work out why a) it needs a realistically human face; and b) why that face needs to be of a real individual.’
MailOnline has contacted Promobot for further information on how people can apply, and when the winner will be announced.
WHO IS SOPHIA THE ROBOT?
In October 2017, Sophia was granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia
Sophia first emerged in 2016 as a super-intelligent human-like head with a realistic face that was able to blink, look from side to side and talk.
The humanoid robot, created by Hong Kong firm Hanson robotics, can chat, smile mischievously and even tell jokes.
The robot made history in October 2017 when she became legal a citizen of Saudi Arabia.
The stunt made Sophia the world’s first robot to be granted legal citizenship.
While Sophia has some impressive capabilities, she does not yet have consciousness.
Hanson Robotics claims fully sentient machines could emerge within a few years.
Sophia herself has insisted ‘the pros outweigh the cons’ when it comes to artificial intelligence.
‘Elders will have more company, autistic children will have endlessly patient teachers,’ Sophia said.
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