# 171. Finally! A Humanoid Robot You Can Trust

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2024-04-23
- Length: 23m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust-msPIzkAU

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss a research project from Columbia University that aims to overcome the 'uncanny valley' in humanoid robotics by creating a robot named Emo with a highly expressive, human-like face. They detail the hardware design, which uses 26 actuators and soft silicon skin to mimic the 30 muscles of the human face, and the software training process where the robot learned expressions by watching itself in a mirror and 'binge-watching' YouTube videos of human faces. The conversation explores the concept of 'co-expression' in human interaction, the ethical implications of creating robots that are too convincing, and the potential integration of large language models like ChatGPT to provide conversational context for the robot's reactions.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust#t=0) Introduction and the Uncanny Valley
- [4:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust#t=251) The Problem of Trust and Facial Cues
- [7:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust#t=439) Emo's Hardware: Actuators and Soft Skin
- [11:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust#t=670) Software Training: Mirror and YouTube Learning
- [14:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust#t=854) Co-expression and Ethical Concerns
- [17:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust#t=1024) Future Integration with LLMs and Conclusion

## 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

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Mouser Electronics (company)
- Figure Robotics (company)
- Figure 01 (product)
- Columbia University (other)
- Emo (product)
- ChatGPT (product)
- Wevolver (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 125: Chatting with robots - Gabriel Skantze](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-13-episode-125-chatting-with-robots-gabriel-skantze) (Robot Talk)
- [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)
- [Episode 126: Why are we building humanoid robots? - Robot Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-06-20-episode-126-why-are-we-building-humanoid-robots-robot-talk-live) (Robot Talk)
- [207: I Love My Robot Monkey Head](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 60: Making robots look human - Carl Strathearn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-11-03-episode-60-making-robots-look-human-carl-strathearn) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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