Obama Meets Robots In Japan (VIDEO)

Last week, President Obama visited Japan to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. He also took some time out to interact with the country's advanced robots.

Obama listened to the croonings of the HRP-4C singing android and petted a moving, squealing plush seal 'bot used to cheer hospital patients.

The president's hosts also sat him down in the futuristic Toyota i-Real, a single-person pod car that reaches speeds of up to 15km/hr, reports TechCrunch.

Though Obama wasn't quite up for the challenge of driving the i-Real, he did say "That's what we're going to be driving" as he exited the vehicle.

"Meeting with robots was probably more enjoyable than the often tough negotiations attended in recent days," Obama said, according to NewsKF.

Take a look at the video (below) to see Obama's robot meet-and-greet.

WATCH: [TechCrunch via Gizmodo]

Comments

[tyger]

09:43 AM on 11/17/2010

Japan is kicking butt!

[season555]

02:33 PM on 11/17/2010

you are so right, we Americans will fall so behind because our kids are too lazy to study math and science, and our leaders are to stupid to believe in science, ( GOPers)

[John Nussbaum]

03:45 PM on 11/16/2010

am i the only one who is afraid of a japanease anime robot killing the president while watching this video?

[yabu]

02:57 PM on 11/16/2010

"Meeting with robots was probably more enjoyable than the often tough negotiations attended in recent days,".

That's way too diplomatic. He should have said: humans suck robots rule. Why I am president of humans is beyond me.

[jackhole]

01:35 PM on 11/16/2010

The side bar caption "watch Obama plays with Robots", that's not a nice thing to call the military....Oh, c'mon like you didn't think the same thing.

[Cody and the Robot]

11:29 AM on 11/16/2010

probably the AWESOMEST headline of the year. a bit of let down article though.. where are the treaties that beget human enslavement to the japanese robots' will?

[pcpc]

10:55 AM on 11/16/2010

The have to super-size that car, use a toilet for seat, with built-in fridge and oxygen tan for the American market.

[Captain Crunch]

02:50 PM on 11/18/2010

I was thinking that adjustment, too.

[nolabels]

10:55 AM on 11/16/2010

That female robot in the beginning was a little creepy. She looked close enough to a human facsimile but just off enough to make me uncomfortable. Still, I welcome the day when such robots (or better ones) are showing me around the museum or to an appointment with a business counterpart.

[foregoneconclusion]

10:51 AM on 11/16/2010

Jesus....people can't just walk anymore?

[jokerdanny]

11:22 AM on 11/16/2010

Didn't jesus ride a donkey?

[Midnightrain]

10:44 AM on 11/16/2010

Um. Isn't that pod car just a high tech wheelchair?

[ebanks84]

10:44 AM on 11/16/2010

That robocar is okay during good weather only. I can't see using it in bad or cold weather at all. This seems to be a summer beach type vehicle basically.

I love the way the Japanese are so electronically motivated to make robots and other helpful mobil devices. Very good. They seem to be years ahead of Americans technically and that is so sad. When will we realize that education is so vital to the future?

[rgilley]

10:42 AM on 11/16/2010

The Japanese are so far ahead of the US in technology we don't stand a prayer of catching up. And I suspect they are at least for now ahead of the Cinese as well. As America fades into history ....

[BabuS5]

10:15 AM on 11/16/2010

Glen Beck: Obama buys japanese socialist robot for 500gabillion dollars !!! REVOLUTION!!!!!!!

[rgilley]

10:43 AM on 11/16/2010

Serious people are no longer listening to Beck if they ever did. Only the "Grand Ole Party of the South" targeting low information voters extolls the musing of Beck.....who BTW hasn't a clue what he's doing.

[AlGoreIsMyPresident]

09:46 AM on 11/16/2010

That robot girl is slightly more animated than your average Republican. And it has just as much empathy.

[rgilley]

10:44 AM on 11/16/2010

"Empathy",,,Republican, isn't that a misnomer?

[Midnightrain]

10:46 AM on 11/16/2010

LOL!

[1088]

09:38 AM on 11/16/2010

If President Obama squint, it's a problem! Enough already with the bull sheit!

[cabo]

09:50 AM on 11/16/2010

Don't be jealous!

[Toa Reap]

09:32 AM on 11/16/2010

Ha! That was funny...

As I read over the posts here in this thread it never ceases to amaze me how people can rip our President about absolutely any and everything.

Good Lord people, give it a break!

[dontpanic1]

09:39 AM on 11/16/2010

Exactly.