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[Dalek]

Baby robot unveiled in Japan as number of childless couples grows

A baby robot designed to “invoke an emotional connection” has been unveiled in Japan, where plummeting birth rates have left many couples without children.

The Kirobo Mini was created by Toyota’s non-automotive department and is equiped with artificial intelligence and a camera so it can recognise the face of the person speaking to it and respond.

“He wobbles a bit, and this is meant to emulate a seated baby which hasn’t fully developed the skills to balance itself,” said Fuminori Kataoka, Kirobo Mini’s chief design engineer. “This vulnerability is meant to invoke an emotional connection.”

Toyota plans to sell Kirobo Mini, which blinks its eyes and speaks with a baby-like high-pitched voice, for 39,800 yen (£300/US$390) in Japan next year. It comes with a “cradle” that doubles as its baby seat designed to fit in car cup holders.

Exacerbated by a reluctance to invite immigrants to bolster its working-age population, Japan’s demographic slowdown shows little sign of easing.

In the past half-century births in Japan have halved to around a million a year, according to government statistics, with one in 10 women never marrying. Births out of wedlock are frowned upon in Japan and much less common than in western developed nations.

Japan is a leading user of industrial robots. It has the second-biggest concentration after South Korea, with 314 machines per 100,000 employees, according to the International Federation of Robots. New technology to help robots better interact with humans means they have begun moving beyond factory floors into homes, offices, shops and hospitals.

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

And so it begins.

 

[exmachina64]

Japan, stop.

 

[CaviarMeths]

Japan, continue.

 

[Calm Mind]

Japan...

 

[Platy]

So people will emmotionaly connect with the robot and not need to have child ?


...I don't think they give this much thought =P

 

[shira]

It comes with a “cradle” that doubles as its baby seat designed to fit in car cup holders.

 

[nampad]

The first robotic nation in 2050.

 

[timetokill]

Is this supposed to like... kickstart women's biological clocks over there or something?

 

[Jotaka]

So just miniature version of 2013 version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcuFk-QK5CM

 

[SaganIsGOAT]

Kudos to them for reducing procreation. Worldwide this should be applauded and followed

 

[echoshifting]

So we're teaching them to charm us now

 

[cooljeanius]

So people will emmotionaly connect with the robot and not need to have child ?


...I don't think they give this much thought =P

Yeah seems like this is going to backfire...

 

[chefbags]

Japan, stop.

Japan, continue.

Neogaf.gif

 

[Sexually Aggressive Uncle]

And so it begins.

The newer models seem to be defective.

 

[joebruin]

cylons

 

[Calm Mind]

Someone should tell Japan The Matrix movies was not a how-to guide.

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

The newer models seem to be defective.

I hope they cast him in Wolf of Wall Street 2. That hair is perfect!

 

[orochi91]

Holy shit, just open up your borders already.

 

[zeioIIDX]

The newer models seem to be defective.

Coffee all over my computer monitor (if I were actually taking a sip when I saw this post).

 

[PSqueak]

The newer models seem to be defective.

Im not sure if i'll be able to play KH anymore without bursting into laughter.

 

[Palmer_v1]

Just get a dog like normal people.

 

[Betty]

Why not buy a robot girlfriend that offers kisses to go with your new baby!

 

[Stinkles]

.

 

[CadetMahoney]

Reminds me of the Pope's Jimmies being rustled saying people are using pets as substitutes for children:

http://time.com/2814527/pope-francis-dogs-cats-pets/

Pope Francis said that staying childless will ultimately bring married couples nothing but "the bitterness of loneliness".

"Raise Kids, Not Cats and Dogs".

He should add an addendum to that ". . .Also not Johnny-5."

 

[Gentleman Jack]

Earlier prototypes failed to create a bond between their fake parents for reasons that escape Japan's finest researchest to this day

 

[Maebe]

what

 

[KeyBladerXIII]

The newer models seem to be defective.

The only thing of value I need now is his voice. Hopefully he doesn't fuck up Sora.

 

[JordanN]

Holy shit, just open up your borders already.

To be fair, how does Japan do that?

The country is super inclusive and everyone is 99% Japanese. In addition to the language barrier, you have other elements in Japan society like their extreme work culture.

When these immigrants assimilate, the same problems will continue to persist.

 

[Mr. Giggles]

Japan's first answer to any problem:

Build a robot for it

 

[luckygodzilla]

.

Perfection.

 

[Amalthea]

But can it fight for everlasting peace?

 

[IAmAnAgnostic]

How.. will this help anything? (and won't it in fact make the situation even worse?)

 

[Kthulhu]

Earlier prototypes failed to create a bond between their fake parents for reasons that escape Japan's finest researchest to this day

Oh god why?

 

[Dai Kaiju]

So...sad. Cannot... comprehend.

 

[TheXbox]

To be fair, how does Japan do that?

The country is super inclusive and everyone is 99% Japanese. In addition to the language barrier, you have other elements in Japan society like their extreme work culture.

When these immigrants assimilate, the same problems will continue to persist.

maybe shorten work hours so people have time to fuck. And ban anime so otaku may procreate

 

[30yearsofhurt]

 

[sakipon]

Feature-wise this looks like a fun toy, but the design looks a bit off. To me it's not cute enough.

I suppose they know what their target audience likes though.

 

[Dai Kaiju]

Earlier prototypes failed to create a bond between their fake parents for reasons that escape Japan's finest researchest to this day

They look too human for the Japanese to form a meaningful connection.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

Stay xenophobic/ultra-nationalistic Japan. It's clearly working out

 

[RustyNails]

In before anime is blamed

 

[HStallion]

So there is Waifu but what does this count as? Babefu?

 

[SenorArdilla]

How long until they make Astro Boy?

 

[LegendofJoe]

This is crazy, the Japanese government needs to start pumping testosterone into the water supply. And for the love of your own damn future RESPECT women in the workplace regardless of their age or relationship status.

 

[Glin]

Japan, please be as you are. You are wonderful and innovative beyond our reach.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

If women would just have sex with neets this could've been prevented!

 

[Skittles]

Never though i'd see the day where married people with kids have more sex than couples with no kids

 

[-Plasma Reus-]

Earlier prototypes failed to create a bond between their fake parents for reasons that escape Japan's finest researchest to this day

 

[hypernima]

The newer models seem to be defective.

Oh...this is the same person? Wow.

 

[jett]

Japan why.