The Smile of Ameca

UK-based company Engineered Arts showed off one of its creations in a YouTube video in late 2021. The humanoid robot Ameca makes a series of fascinating human-like facial expressions. The Verge magazine describes this process: „At the start of the video, Ameca appears to ‚wake up,‘ as its face conveys a mix of confusion and frustration when it opens its eyes. But when Ameca starts looking at its hands and arms, the robot opens its mouth and raises its brows in what it looks like is amazement. The end of the video shows Ameca smiling and holding a welcoming hand out towards the viewer – if that’s how you want to interpret that gesture.“ (The Verge, 5 December 2021) However, this smile does not turn out perfectly – a problem that affects all androids. Almost every emotional movement can now be simulated well – except for the one whose expression is the smile. Only when this problem is solved will Sophia, Erica, and Ameca be able to get out of Uncanny Valley.

Fig.: Ameca (Photo: Engineered Arts)