Get Ready for Robot Love

But they still can't beat the best humans

(NEWSER) - Online poker’s not just for humans anymore: Robots have entered the game, and they’re winning tens of thousands, the New York Times reports. Such bots have existed for a while—but only recently have they gotten good at the game, thanks to advances in artificial intelligence. Top game sites like PokerStars and Full Tilt are fighting back against the bots, cutting some accounts and in some cases returning vast quantities of money to real players. More»

Researchers actually trying to create robots incapable of harming humans

(NEWSER) - Six Slovenian volunteers have been getting beaten up by a robot in the name of science. The men have been punched repeatedly in the arm at different strengths by said robot and rating the resulting sensation on a scale that ranges from "painless" to "unbearable." The robotic lab's chief researcher says the experiment is actually designed to help future robots adhere to Isaac Asimov's first law of robotics, which states that "a robot may not injure a human being." More»

Creepy. Creepy. Creepy.

(AP) - Almost everyone stood when the bride walked down the aisle in her white gown, but not the wedding conductor, because she was bolted to her chair. The nuptials at this ceremony were led by "I-Fairy," a 4-foot-tall seated robot with flashing eyes and plastic pigtails. Today's wedding was the first time a marriage had been led by a robot, according to manufacturer Kokoro Co. "Please lift the bride's veil," the robot said in a tinny voice, waving its arms in the air as the newlyweds kissed in front of about 50 guests More»

Study finds potential issue with non-invasive surgery option

(NEWSER) - Men who undergo minimally invasive, robot-assisted prostate surgery were more than twice as likely to suffer from impotence and incontinence a year and a half later, compared to those receiving conventional surgery, a new Harvard study has found. Some 4.7% of those treated with laparoscopic surgery, using remote-controlled techniques, developed the problems, compared to 2.1% of those treated without them. More»

(NEWSER) - It's a milestone for robots: One has learned to smile and make realistic facial expressions on its own for the first time, Wired reports. University of California researchers put their Einstein robot in front of a video camera attached to facial recognition software, which gave it feedback as it randomly contorted its 31 artificial facial muscles. The experiment could shed light on how babies learn to make expressions. More»