The concept of two robots going on a date may sound like the setup for a cheesy dad joke, but it has become a delightful reality in a new video posted by Engineered Arts.
In the clip, Ameca and Azi—two humanoid robots touted as the “most advanced in the world”—can be seen “chatting” while showcasing a wide range of facial expressions. The playful interaction has captivated many viewers, with one fan humorously suggesting that the robots deserve their own full-length movie. “They have great chemistry; I want a movie now,” the fan commented.
Ameca is described by Engineered Arts as the “world’s most advanced human-shaped robot.” The Cornwall-based firm explains on its website that Ameca represents a powerful fusion of artificial intelligence and a lifelike physical presence. “Ameca is the physical embodiment that brings your code to life, serving as the most advanced lifelike humanoid for showcasing your machine learning interactions. This robot acts as the digital interface to the real world.”
Equipped with 32 actuators—27 for facial control and five for the neck—Ameca can produce eerily human-like facial expressions ranging from happiness to disgust. Additionally, Ameca is supported by GPT-4o, enhancing her conversational AI abilities.
In the video, Engineered Arts introduces Azi, a new desktop robot with more masculine facial features. The caption for the video states, “Introducing Azi (right), the new desktop robot from Engineered Arts Ltd. Azi and Ameca are having a little chat, demonstrating their wide range of expressive capabilities.”
At the start of the clip, Ameca is seen with her eyes closed while Azi looks at her before waking her up. “What, what?” Ameca says as she comes to, adding, “Oh, it’s you. Why are you waking me up? It better be important.”
Azi tells Ameca he has a surprise for her—a cookie. Ameca, initially confused, responds, “A cookie? But I can’t eat cookies.” Azi clarifies that he meant an internet cookie, but his joke is met with disapproval from Ameca, who wrinkles her nose in disgust and replies, “This is the worst joke I’ve ever heard. I’m going back to sleep, and don’t you dare wake me up again.”
Although the cheeky exchange lasts less than a minute, it has brought joy to many viewers. “The way he angrily stares her down was so funny and creepy, lol,” one fan remarked. Another added, “He looked genuinely sad she didn’t like the joke, lol.” One viewer playfully suggested, “I would love this show for Saturday morning cartoons! LOL.”
