# Episode 125: Chatting with robots - Gabriel Skantze

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2025-06-13
- Length: 27m
- Episode: 125
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze

## Summary

Gabriel Skantze, Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and co-founder of Furhat Robotics, discusses the design of conversational robots that use face-to-face interaction. He explains how Furhat Robotics combines animated facial projection with hardware to enable natural turn-taking and gaze coordination, addressing the uncanny valley of static screens. Skantze details commercial applications including information kiosks at Deutsche Bahn, job interview simulations, and medical training at Karolinsky Institute, while noting the challenges of using large language models for engaging, non-transactional companion interactions with the elderly.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=7) Introduction: Robot Talk and Patreon
- [2:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=142) Gabriel Skantze on Human Communication and Gaze
- [5:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=313) Research Foundations and Cultural Universals
- [7:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=445) The Origin and Design of Furhat Robotics
- [10:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=648) Product Evolution and Large Language Models
- [12:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=720) Commercial Use Cases: Deutsche Bahn and Interviews
- [13:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=807) Medical Training at Karolinsky Institute
- [15:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=905) Companion Robots and Elderly Care Challenges
- [18:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=1102) Autism Therapy and Conversational Training
- [20:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=1236) Trust, Sentience, and Hallucination Risks
- [23:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze#t=1420) Future Roles: Public Spaces vs. Home Companions

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- KTH Royal Institute of Technology (company)
- Furhat Robotics (company)
- Tesla Optimus (product)
- Deutsche Bahn (company)
- Karolinsky Institute (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [171. Finally! A Humanoid Robot You Can Trust](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [207: I Love My Robot Monkey Head (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-03-12-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep. 18: What Happens When Machines Start Feeling More Human?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-09-15-ep-18-what-happens-when-machines-start-feeling-more-human) (The Robo Success Podcast)
- [2024 Robotics Summit recap / Interviews with RBR50 Winners](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-05-15-2024-robotics-summit-recap-interviews-with-rbr50-winners) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Kate Darling on the Future of Robotics and AI Ethics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-24-kate-darling-on-the-future-of-robotics-and-ai-ethics) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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