Pepper The Robot Can Read Your Emotions, But Don’t Have Sex With It

Gives the Phrase "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that," a Whole New Meaning

If you haven’t heard about Pepper the robot yet, Pepper is a robot designed to be a companion. Pepper doesn’t cook, clean, or do your taxes; no, Pepper is programmed to be able to read your emotions and respond. Pepper will soon be available for purchase worldwide, but there’s one little catch. If you buy your very own Pepper the robot, you have to promise you won’t have sex with it.  

According to cnet (link below), the Japanese telecommunications company Softbank and their collaborators Aldebaran SAS, a French robotics company, don’t want anyone to turn Pepper into a sexbot.  

So, as the Daily Mail breathlessly reports, Pepper's human owners must promise not to indulge in carnal relationships with it. Creating sexy apps is also a no-no, as is programming it to stalk others. Indeed, the actual clause is said to outlaw using Pepper for "the purpose of sexual or indecent behavior."  

Now, I’m sure some people out there are saying, "If I’m paying around $1600 for a robot who read my emotions and when I’m sad would like them to give me a hand job while playing classic Billy Joel albums and not looking you in the eyes," I hear what you are saying. But Pepper is not a sexbot. Softbank hasn’t said how they plan to keep people from turning Pepper from your friend to your friend with benefits, but I’m not going to be surprised when I read about someone trying to have sex with Pepper.

Guess everyone out there who was hoping for a little robot lovin' will just have a wait until someone creates a robot you can have sex with.

Via cnet.com

Photo credit Aldebaran SAS