National Geographic Magazine: Us. And them. | Robots are being created that can think, act, and relate to humans. Are we ready?

nationalgeographicmagazine:

By Chris Carroll
By Max Aguilera-Hellweg
Someone types a command into a laptop, and Actroid-DER jerks upright with a shudder and a wheeze. Compressed air flows beneath silicone skin, triggering actuators that raise her arms and lift the corners of her mouth into a demure smile. She seems to…