Robot Artists

Question 1

dystopia

Answer 1

an imaginary future society where everything is bad.

It’s very strange because on first glance she looks incredibly scary, a bit like a dystopian robot from the future but when you see her move and express she becomes incredibly cute.

When Karl first meets Ai-Da he sees a wired-up metal skull without skin. She looks like a robot from a dystopia - an imaginary future world where everything is bad – like the movie ‘Robocop’.

Question 2

non-verbal communication

Answer 2

communication that does not involve speaking such as using physical gestures and facial expressions.

But as Karl spends more time with Ai-Da he begins to see her move and express herself. She smiles, blinks and uses facial expressions and hand gestures known as non-verbal communication to appear more human.

Question 3

appeal

Answer 3

the quality in someone that makes them attractive and interesting.

This human-like behaviour is part of Ai-Da’s appeal - the quality in someone that makes them attractive and interesting – and soon Karl is calling the robot ‘she’ instead of ‘it’.

People tend to refer to them as ‘he’ or ‘she’, they’re drawn to the robots. So much of our communication is non-verbal – I’m gesturing with my arms, I’m smiling… and our robots – a big part of their appeal and their human nature is in the way they behave and move and it’s great that you’re picking up on that from something that has no skin.

Question 4

compelling

Answer 4

so exciting and interesting that it holds your attention.

One challenge the team faced was building a robotic arm that could allow Ai-Da to draw pictures that were compelling – exciting, interesting and able to keep your attention.

Question 5

battles to win

Answer 5

problems to be solved; obstacles to be overcome.

In combining an electronic AI brain with mechanical robot eyes and arms there were many battles to be won – difficulties and technical obstacles to be overcome.

and actually getting her to do a compelling drawing of what she sees. There’s some battles still to be won before the show, we will eventually hopefully iron out all the issues before that time.

Question 6

iron (something) out

Answer 6

remove or find solutions to a problem.

And at the time of the interview, the team still had some issues to iron out – removing problems by finding solutions – before Ai-Da’s opening show: an exhibition of her artwork at The Design Museum in London. Amazing! It’s nice to think that a robot could be the next Picasso instead of an out-of-control sci-fi policeman!

There’s some battles still to be won before the show, we will eventually hopefully iron out all the issues before that time.