Robots go to humor school

Robots go to

, to learn how to

of human beings: it happens in Japan, where the 

has been equipped with an artificial intelligence system that recognizes human laughter and evaluates whether to respond, perhaps with a polite chuckle or a more open laugh to allow for

.

The results of the first experiments are published in the journal Frontiers in Robotics and AI by researchers from Kyoto University.

Erica 's

was

on the basis of over

that took place during a speed date between some university students and the robot, remotely controlled by some amateur actresses.

In particular, three types of laughter have been distinguished: 'solo' laughter, which does not arouse the interlocutor's laughter;

those 'social', which are done only for education or embarrassment;

those 'cheerful', fruit of humor.

Based on the recorded audios, the algorithm learned the

social laughter, which tends to be more subdued, and cheerful laughter, with the aim of reproducing them in appropriate situations.

The robot's

was then

in four short dialogues with one person.

The related videos were judged by 130 volunteers, who rated Erica's behavior much more natural and empathetic than when she always laughed in response to human laughter or when she didn't laugh at all.

Laughter is just one element that can make conversation with humans more natural.

"In fact, robots should have a distinctive character and we think they can demonstrate this through their behaviors during conversation, such as laughter, gaze, gestures and speech," emphasizes the first author of the study, Koji Inoue.

"We don't think this is an easy problem: it

before we can finally have an informal chat with a robot like we would with a friend."