Laughing With the Robots

Whilst we are on the topic of robots, there have been studies carried out by Bedfordshire University, using a robot called 'Pepper' to provide companionship to elderly folk in care homes (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8707603/Robots-improve-mental-health-loneliness-older-people-study.html). The robot can chat, 'laugh' at jokes and even teach humans. Pepper has a built-in AI cultural element provived by Culture Aware Robots and Environmental Sensor Systems for Elderly Support (with the awkward acronym of Caresses). Although the robot is clearly no replacement for human interaction, it did produce a small but measureable improvement in mental health and wellbeing. The robot has the advantage over human carers (it doesn't breathe) of not passing on Covid-19 (so long as it is properly cleaned and is not coughed on). I suppose, also, that they don't get bored. I suppose it might prove useful, particularly when visits from relatives are difficult (as in a pandemic closure). Personally, however, I hope to avoid finishing my days chuckling away in a corner with a plastic 'friend' but, then, I have never been very good with 'small talk' (even with people).