New robot has basic social skills

JUDY LIN
Associated Press Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A 6-foot-tall robot that courteously steps aside
for people, smiles during conversation and politely asks directions shouldn't be blamed for being too eager to please.
[...]
The robot, named GRACE (short for Graduate Robot Attending Conference), will wander a symposium on artificial intelligence that begins this weekend, where it will demonstrate basic human social skills.
It will try to sign in at the registration desk, find a conference room, give a speech and answer questions.
GRACE, a drum-shaped contraption with a digitally animated face that appears on a computer display, is the work of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and elsewhere.
[...]