Scientists are using living human skin as a building material to create faces for robots that would enable them to show emotions, unnerving footage shows.
A video shows the skin attached to a robot prototype forcing a pink lifeless blob with eyes to suddenly light up with a smile.
Welcome to the creepy future: A smiling face made from living human skin cells to give robots the ability to show emotion. This is just wrong.
— Clown World (@ClownWorld_) June 26, 2024
NewScientist.com has more:
The living tissue is a cultured mix of human skin cells grown in a collagen scaffold and placed on top of a 3D-printed resin base. Unlike previous similar experiments, the skin also contains the equivalent of the ligaments that, in humans and other animals, are buried in the layer of tissue beneath the skin, holding it in place and giving it incredible strength and flexibility.
Apart from looking creepy, Harvard researchers experimenting with the skin-like texture say not only could it be fitted to robotic skeletons, but could also be beneficial to the cosmetics industry.
— Algorusty — (Christ/acc) (@algorusty) June 26, 2024