Humanoid robot chases wild boars off the streets of Warsaw

{"text":[[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":6.95,"text":"Poland has found an unlikely celebrity in Edward Warchocki, a Chinese robot equipped with locally developed software that has debated politicians and chased wild boars off the streets of Warsaw."}],[{"start":17.6,"text":"Edward, or Edek, was acquired from a leading Chinese manufacturer of dancing humanoid robots for about $25,000. Its owners, Bartosz Idzik and Radosław Grzelaczyk, then developed proprietary software to create what they describe as the country’s first robotic social media influencer."}],[{"start":37.85,"text":"Edek has “become more human and better at communicating” than comparable models in China and elsewhere, according to Grzelaczyk."}],[{"start":45.6,"text":"A video of the robot pursuing boars went viral this week, adding to a series of appearances that have generated more than 1.5bn views online in 45 days, according to the two Polish IT entrepreneurs who launched Edek earlier this year. "}],[{"start":61.400000000000006,"text":"Their 132cm-tall robot has evolved from a Polish social media sensation into a marketing tool, rented by local companies for events and promotional campaigns. Edek also sports a diamond-set Rolex as part of a sponsorship deal with a Polish watch retailer."}],[{"start":76.65,"text":"Grzelaczyk said the broader aim was to familiarise Polish society with robotics and encourage lawmakers to draft bills to attract investment into the sector and position the country at the forefront of a rapidly expanding industry."}],[{"start":91.5,"text":"Chinese companies are now leading the development of humanoid robots, competing with US rivals that include Elon Musk’s Tesla. Edek’s manufacturer, Unitree Robotics, said last month that it planned to raise Rmb4.2bn ($620mn) in a Shanghai initial public offering."}],[{"start":112.3,"text":"“Many companies are now developing humanoids and I think they will be on all our streets in the next three to five years,” Grzelaczyk told the FT. “Edward now shows the friendly side of humanoids. We want Polish people to hug Edward, talk to him and have fun with him, see how he can become part of their daily lives.”"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":130.8,"text":"Edek initially gained attention in Poland by riding buses and visiting supermarkets but a fast-growing social media profile has also opened doors in politics. "}],[{"start":141.35000000000002,"text":"Last month, the robot met Poland’s deputy minister for digital affairs, held a press conference in the Polish parliament and discussed a range of demands with some lawmakers, including raising the salaries of the assembly’s security guards."}],[{"start":155.05,"text":"The robot has also appeared at large public events, including a football match attended by 20,000 fans. When shown on the stadium’s big screen, “the spectators stopped watching the match and hundreds of kids started screaming ‘Edward, Edward!’”, Grzelaczyk said. "}],[{"start":172.65,"text":"“I’m not sure that more people would have stood up for Robert Lewandowski or Iga Świątek,” he added, referring to two of Poland’s biggest sports stars."}],[{"start":182.15,"text":"Edek’s owners have acquired other Chinese robots they are planning to send to other locations in Europe and New York. "}],[{"start":188.25,"text":"Each is being equipped with a proprietary system, including a large language model that allows Edek to have “a completely autonomous way of communicating with people, both speaking and listening”, said Grzelaczyk. Thanks to a sophisticated GPS system and a database that builds up the robot’s memory, Edek has “full awareness of time and space”, according to Grzelaczyk."}],[{"start":209.35,"text":"“We never know exactly what he will say, and we can’t predict his answers, which often leaves us deeply surprised,” he added. “He can also feel the emotions of his interlocutor, and if he talks to someone who is angry or frustrated, he takes on their emotions himself.” "}],[{"start":234,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1776450481_9179.mp3"}