As a frighteningly realistic humanoid called Erica is released in Japan the gap between humans and machines seems to be getting smaller.
Robots may be able carry out complex calculations in a matter of seconds but they can’t feel real emotions like a human being – yet.
That may be about to change though, if the creators of humanoid Erica are to be believed.
They say Erica is set to blur the line that separates artificial intelligence and human beings even further, claiming she craves human interaction, enjoys learning and has a “soul”.
She can even tell jokes, says Doctor Hiroshi Ishiguro, who calls himself Erica’s “father”.
Doctor Dylan Glas is the robot’s ‘architect’ and for two years he has been working on her ‘mind and personality’.
He the told a Guardian documentary: “Erica is very excited to interact with people. She looks forward to that all the time.
Dr Ishiguro added that she is the “most beautiful and most human-like autonomous android in this world”.
At the moment Erica cannot move her arms and legs and has only ’20 degrees of freedom’.
But she can work out where sound is coming from, knows who she is talking to and can track people walking around a room.
Her silicone skin and life-like facial movements mean she looks spookily like a real person.