Japan is closer to having live in/work in robots than any country in the world. Imagine a kid who doesn’t talk back, a wife who doesn’t nag, a husband who doesn’t come home soused, a friend who makes sushi, plants rice and cleans the house.

Japan is the country the closest to making all of these scenarios a reality.

Japanese robots:

1. can simulate basic expressions- anger, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise, disgust

2. are welcomed at factories with Shinto religious ceremonies

3. make sushi

4. plant rice

5. tend to rice paddies

5. work as receptionists

6. vacuum corridors

7. spoon feed the elderly

8. serve tea

9. greet company guests

10. work as guides at public technology displays

11. are furry and have whiskers

12. are portrayed as friendly helpers in Japanese popular culture

13. don’t threaten the Japanese psyche if they have feelings

14. don’t claim overtime or draw pensions - none of the 370,000+ of the lot

15. can outwork 10 employees

16. give Japan an edge in international competitiveness

17. can build more complex cars, surgical equipment

18. can play with you or your children

19. are trying to understand child development at Osaka University

20. are learning to learn at Osaka University.

If only we could get real people to do all these things.

The dream is to some day have to ask, “Are you human? Or, are you a robot?”

The answer - “It depends what you have in mind.”

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