I second that emotion

Regular readers may have been alarmed at the dearth of robot-based news of late, but a story piqued my curiosity this week that I hope is well worth the wait.

The national press have giddily reported news of Nao, a robot that can apparently develop emotions and form bonds. My love of all things robotic has been well documented in this organ, and it's clearly only a matter of time before the human race is enslaved by the shiny automatons.

But let's back up a minute. Nao has no emotions, nor meaningful consciousness of any kind.

Without wishing to delve too deep into the Turing test or the Chinese room argument (who said that philosophy degree hasn't had one practical application in 25 years?) I think it's fair to say Nao is just tin, wires and software. So let's not get carried away.

Still, I'd love to get one for Dodgi Towers. And, sentient or not, I dare say he's got more personality than the collection of drones I call a marketing department.