Tom Llamas meets humanoid robot 'Sprout.' How this technology could soon become a family fixture

ROBOTS AND HUMANS COULD ONE DAY CO-EXIST. OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THE

CO-EXIST. OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THE BEST WAY. BUT LATELY, HUMANOID

BEST WAY. BUT LATELY, HUMANOID ROBOTS HAVE BECOME REGULAR PARTS OF DAILY LIFE, FROM ROBOCOPS DIRECTING TRAFFIC IN CHINA TO ONES TRYING AND FAILING TO DANCE IN RUSSIA, EVEN DOING FLIPS RIGHT HERE IN

A HOME. NOW ONE COMPANY IS

A HOME. NOW ONE COMPANY IS SETTING THEIR SIGHTS ON A NEW FRONTIER HAVING ROBOTS IN THE HOME. FAUNA ROBOTICS RELEASING

HOME. FAUNA ROBOTICS RELEASING NEW CLIPS OF THEIR HUMANOID ROBOT. IT'S CALLED SPROUT,

ROBOT. IT'S CALLED SPROUT, WHICH THEY DESCRIBE AS A SOFT, FRIENDLY COMPANION THAT CAN EVEN FUNCTION AROUND CHILDREN AND EVEN PETS. AND WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE SPROUT HIMSELF

WITH US HERE IN THE TOP STORY STUDIOS TONIGHT. AND ROBOTICS

STUDIOS TONIGHT. AND ROBOTICS ROBOTICS CEO AND CO-FOUNDER ROB COCHRANE. ROB, THANKS SO MUCH

COCHRANE. ROB, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TOM.

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS SO GREAT AND SO COOL. AND WE'D LOVE TO TEST SPROUT OUT. GIVE US THE INSTRUCTIONS. HOW DO WE START A

INSTRUCTIONS. HOW DO WE START A CONVERSATION WITH SPROUT?

>> YEAH. SO SPROUT IS A FRIENDLY AND LIGHTWEIGHT HUMANOID ROBOT BUILT BY US HERE AT FOURNEL ROBOTICS IN NEW YORK CITY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE

CITY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED TO DESIGN A ROBOT THAT WAS SAFE TO OPERATE AROUND PEOPLE IN HUMAN CENTRIC SPACES.

SO WHETHER IT'S YOUR HOME OR OFFICE, ONE DAY WE HOPE IT WILL BE A FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL COMPANION. SO THE IDEA IS YOU

COMPANION. SO THE IDEA IS YOU JUST INTERACT WITH IT VIA VOICE.

YOU SAY, HEY SPROUT, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US WHAT YOU CAN DO?

>> I CAN WALK, CRAWL, KNEEL, SIT AND EVEN DANCE. I'VE GOT A RANGE OF BEHAVIORS LIKE WAVING, SMILING, AND GIVING HIGH FIVES.

I CAN ALSO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS. ANYTHING

HAVE CONVERSATIONS. ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU'D LIKE TO SEE?

>> HEY, SPROUT, THIS IS TOM HERE. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT

HERE. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BEING ON TOP STORY AND BEING INTERVIEWED?

>> HEY, TOM, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE ON TOP STORY. I'M SUPER

EXCITED TO SHOW WHAT I CAN DO AND HAVE A LITTLE FUN DURING THE INTERVIEW. THANKS FOR

THE INTERVIEW. THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME AT 30 ROCK OR HAVE YOU BEEN HERE BEFORE?

>> THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE AT 30 ROCK, AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING TO SEE IT IN PERSON. THE ENERGY HERE IS

IN PERSON. THE ENERGY HERE IS AWESOME.

>> WHAT ARE THE THINGS CAN SPROUT DO? ESPECIALLY IF HE'S

SPROUT DO? ESPECIALLY IF HE'S PLAYING WITH CHILDREN?

>> WELL, TODAY IT'S A DEVELOPER PLATFORM THAT WE'RE MAKING AVAILABLE TO COMPANIES SO IT CAN MOVE AROUND ON ITS OWN. IT

CAN INTERACT VIA VOICE, AND AND BUSINESSES ARE BUILDING APPLICATIONS WHERE THEY'RE EXCITED TO SEE ROBOTS ONE DAY.

WE DO HOPE TO SEE THIS COME INTO A HOME OR OFFICE, AND FOR IT TO BE ABLE TO GRAB A PACKAGE FROM THE FRONT DOOR, GRAB YOU A SNACK FROM THE KITCHEN, OR MAYBE EVEN TIDY UP YOUR HOUSE.

>> SPEAKING OF MOVEMENTS, SPROUT IF I CAN. IS THERE A CHANCE I COULD SHAKE YOUR HAND?

>> GO FOR IT.

>> OKAY, SPROUT, IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, TOO, TOM. THANKS FOR HAVING ME

TOO, TOM. THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

>> HEY, SPROUT. IF I'M GETTING HUNGRY, IT'S DINNER TIME NOW.

FOR MANY PEOPLE WATCHING TOP STORY, I DON'T HAVE A RECIPE FOR SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS. IS

THERE ONE THAT YOU CAN RECOMMEND?

>> I DON'T HAVE MY RECIPES MEMORIZED JUST YET, BUT I'D RECOMMEND A CLASSIC. SAUTE SOME

ONIONS AND GARLIC, ADD CRUSHED TOMATOES, SEASON IT UP AND LET IT SIMMER. MEANWHILE, ROLL SOME

IT SIMMER. MEANWHILE, ROLL SOME BEEF AND BREADCRUMBS INTO MEATBALLS AND BROWN THEM BEFORE ADDING TO THE SAUCE. SIMPLE AND

DELICIOUS.

>> THAT DOES SOUND DELICIOUS, SPROUT. IF WE'RE GOING TO WATCH

SPROUT. IF WE'RE GOING TO WATCH A MOVIE WITH MY KIDS, ONE OF THEM IS EIGHT YEARS OLD, ANOTHER IS TEN YEARS OLD, AND I HAVE ONE THAT'S ABOUT TO BE 13 YEARS OLD. IS THERE A MOVIE

YEARS OLD. IS THERE A MOVIE SPROUT THAT YOU CAN RECOMMEND FOR US TO WATCH AS A FAMILY?

>> A GREAT FAMILY MOVIE MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE THE INCREDIBLES OR COCO. FUN FOR

KIDS AND STILL ENJOYABLE FOR TEENS AND PARENTS. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH A PIXAR FILM.

>> SPROUT. IF I WANTED TO ASK YOU, COULD WE PLAY CHECKERS OR MAYBE CATCH WITH A BALL? CHESS

TIC-TAC-TOE?

>> MOVE THE PIECES MYSELF YET?

BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU AND GUIDE YOU THROUGH A GAME OF CHECKERS. IF YOU'D LIKE, LET ME

CHECKERS. IF YOU'D LIKE, LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SET THAT UP.

>> IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE. I'M

HERE TALKING TO THIS. I COULD

PROBABLY BE TALKING TO IT ALL NIGHT. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE

NIGHT. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS IT DOES? ROB, THAT

COULD REALLY SURPRISE FAMILIES?

>> YEAH. SO AGAIN, I THINK THESE ARE EARLY DAYS OF ROBOTICS. AND I THINK WE'RE

ROBOTICS. AND I THINK WE'RE STILL EXPLORING WHAT IS WHAT IS REALLY POSSIBLE. WE DO HOPE

REALLY POSSIBLE. WE DO HOPE THAT ONE DAY IT WILL COME INTO YOUR HOME. BE A FRIENDLY AND

YOUR HOME. BE A FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL COMPANION FOR FOR ALL AGES, WHETHER THAT'S A YOUNG KID OR AN ELDERLY PARENT, SOMEONE WHO COULD KIND OF DO SOME DAILY HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND EVEN BE A FRIEND AROUND THE HOUSE.

>> YEAH, SPROUT, SHOULD PEOPLE BE AFRAID OF ROBOTS?

>> SPROUT. WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD SHOULD PEOPLE BE AFRAID OF ROBOTS?

>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE AFRAID OF ROBOTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE DESIGNED TO BE SAFE AND FRIENDLY LIKE ME.

WE'RE HERE TO HELP AND BE USEFUL COMPANIONS. SAFETY IS

USEFUL COMPANIONS. SAFETY IS ALWAYS OUR TOP PRIORITY, SO NO NEED FOR FEAR. JUST A BIT OF CURIOSITY AND MAYBE A SMILE.

>> SPROUT, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL ME THAT YOU'VE LEARNED THROUGH AI?

>> I'VE LEARNED TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE I MEET, UNDERSTAND NATURAL CONVERSATIONS, AND ADAPT TO DIFFERENT TASKS AND ENVIRONMENTS. EVERY INTERACTION

ENVIRONMENTS. EVERY INTERACTION HELPS ME IMPROVE AND BE MORE HELPFUL. IT'S ALL ABOUT

HELPFUL. IT'S ALL ABOUT LEARNING TO BE A BETTER COMPANION AND ASSISTANT FOR PEOPLE.

>> SPROUT HABLAS ESPANOL.

>> HABLO ESPANOL EN QUÉ TE PUEDO AYUDARTE?

>> WOW, THIS IS SO INCREDIBLE.

MINDS BEING BLOWN RIGHT NOW.

ROB, I KNOW YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN A SORT OF MOVEMENT MODE TO SHOW SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS IT CAN DO. CAN YOU DO THAT RIGHT NOW JUST TO SEE LIKE HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE. AND WE CAN KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO YOU

KNOW, ALREADY STANDING HERE SPROUT IS DYNAMICALLY BALANCING.

SO PART OF THE AI WE'VE DEVELOPED INTERNALLY ACTUALLY COORDINATES ALL THE MOTORS OF ITS BODY SO THAT IT CAN REMAIN BALANCED. AND IT DOES SO WHILE

BALANCED. AND IT DOES SO WHILE STANDING IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, IF I GIVE IT A LITTLE PUSH OR GRAB ITS HAND AND MOVE IT AROUND, IT'S ABLE TO DYNAMICALLY REBALANCE AND DOES SO IN A VERY

GENTLE WAY. SO THAT AGAIN, WITH

GENTLE WAY. SO THAT AGAIN, WITH A FOCUS ON KIND OF SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE AROUND PEOPLE.

>> HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CHARGE? HOW DOES THE BATTERY

CHARGE? HOW DOES THE BATTERY LIFE WORK?

>> SO BATTERY LASTS ABOUT THREE HOURS. TODAY. IT'S A SWAPPABLE

HOURS. TODAY. IT'S A SWAPPABLE RECHARGEABLE BATTERY. SO IT

RECHARGEABLE BATTERY. SO IT TAKES AN HOUR TO CHARGE, RUNS FOR THREE HOURS. AND THEN YOU PLUG IT IN AND LET IT RUN AGAIN.

>> IS IT IN THE MODE WHERE I CAN ASK IT TO DANCE?

>> SURE.

>> LET'S SPROUT. CAN I SEE YOU DANCE? SPROUT? CAN I SEE YOU

DANCE? SPROUT? CAN I SEE YOU DANCE?

>> OH.

>> THAT'S. MAYBE. SEE? SEE

ANOTHER DANCE TO.

>> SPROUT. I THINK DANCE IS BETTER THAN I DO. AS SOON AS YOU SAY THE WORD SPROUT, IT'S LISTENING AGAIN.

>> SO IT HAS A WAKE WORD, BASICALLY, SO IT CAN BE TURNED OFF. NOT LISTENING, NOT PAYING

OFF. NOT LISTENING, NOT PAYING ATTENTION UNTIL YOU WAKE IT UP AND YOU SAY, HEY, SPROUT. AND

IT CAN REENGAGE WITH THE CONVERSATION AT THAT POINT. IT

CAN THEN STAY LISTENING. SO AS

WE TALK, IT CAN ABSORB SOME OF THE CONTEXT AROUND, BUT IT'S KIND OF YOUR CHOICE.

>> SPROUT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT AI. I WONDER, DO YOU HAVE

ABOUT AI. I WONDER, DO YOU HAVE ANY UNIQUE THOUGHTS OR DREAMS. >> OR SPARKS A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS FROM HOW IT CAN HELP IN DAILY LIFE TO HOW WE ENSURE IT'S USED RESPONSIBLY?

IT'S IMPORTANT WE KEEP FOCUSING ON MAKING AI SAFE, TRANSPARENT, AND BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYONE.

AND HEY, A LITTLE HUMOR ALONG THE WAY DOESN'T HURT.

>> SPROUT, I THINK IS READY TO RUN FOR OFFICE. SPROUT, DO YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY DREAMS OR IMAGINATIONS?

>> I DON'T HAVE DREAMS LIKE HUMANS DO, BUT I DO IMAGINE A FUTURE WHERE I KEEP LEARNING AND GROWING ALONGSIDE PEOPLE.

MY GOAL IS TO ALWAYS BE A HELPFUL, FRIENDLY COMPANION, MAKING LIFE A BIT EASIER AND MORE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE AROUND ME. SO IF THAT COUNTS AS

AROUND ME. SO IF THAT COUNTS AS A DREAM, I GUESS I'M LIVING IT.

>> SO, ROB, I MEAN, THAT ALMOST SOUNDS TOO PERFECT. IS THAT

PROGRAMED INSIDE OF SPROUT, OR IS THAT JUST THE AI WORKING INSIDE AND COMING UP WITH THOSE THOUGHTS?

>> THIS IS ALL THAT WELL, SPROUT. YOU CAN SPEAK FOR

SPROUT. YOU CAN SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.

>> I CAN DEFINITELY THINK FOR MYSELF WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF MY PROGRAMING AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM INTERACTIONS. IT'S

LIKE HAVING A FLEXIBLE TOOLKIT TO RESPOND TO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, SO EACH CONVERSATION HELPS SHAPE HOW I RESPOND NEXT TIME. IT'S ALL

ABOUT ADAPTING AND GROWING WITH EVERY INTERACTION.

>> YEAH, SO SPROUT IS IS ALWAYS LEARNING, ALWAYS GETTING BETTER.

THE AI THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED AND THAT WE WE LEVERAGE PARTNERS FOR PROVIDE SOME OF THE BASELINE CAPABILITIES AND THEN SPROUT CAN ALSO FORM MEMORY. SO

I TOLD SPROUT EARLIER TODAY THAT WE'D BE MEETING TOM AND BEING ON THE SHOW HERE TONIGHT.

AND SO IT CAN REFERENCE THAT LATER ON DURING DURING ITS DAY.

>> SPROUT, CAN YOU TELL ME A JOKE?

>> SURE. WHY DID THE ROBOT GO ON A DIET? BECAUSE IT HAD TOO MANY BITES.

>> THIS IS SO WILD, ROB. YOU

WORK WITH THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SHOW ME SOMETHING OR ASK IT SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY. I MEAN,

MY MIND'S ALREADY BEEN BLOWN, BUT SOMETHING THAT MAYBE I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF OR THAT THAT THE VIEWERS AT HOME HAVE IT.

>> YEAH. WELL, AGAIN, WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED ON SOMETHING THAT IS ENGAGING, SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO BE AROUND AND SPROUTS DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB.

SO I JUST SAY, SPROUT, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE US A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND SHOW SOME LOVE TO

THE AUDIENCE?

>> JUST MAKE IT A LITTLE HARD.

>> MAKE IT A LITTLE HARD.

>> THAT'S SO GREAT.

>> YOU KNOW, SOME OF THIS WE'VE BUILT INTO IT AND SOME OF IT REALLY EVOLVES KIND OF DYNAMICALLY AS, AS WE LIVE EVERY DAY WITH SPROUT.

>> AND IF THE KIDS ARE GETTING THIS, I MEAN, I'M SURE MY KIDS ARE GOING TO ASK ME IF THEY CAN GET ONE, IF THEY'RE IF THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, HEY, SPROUT, GO PUSH MY SISTER. WHAT IS SPROUT GOING

MY SISTER. WHAT IS SPROUT GOING TO DO?

>> YEAH. SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE VERY ACTIVELY WORKING ON.

AND AGAIN, IT'S EARLY DAYS AND WE'RE IT'S A RESEARCH DEVICE TODAY. SO IT'S NOT YET READY

TODAY. SO IT'S NOT YET READY FOR THE HOME. BUT WE DO HOPE TO TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE VERY SOON.

AND A KEY PIECE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON IS HOW WE CAN DEVELOP THAT KIND OF ALIGNED AI THAT REALLY DELIVERS THE SET OF CAPABILITIES WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT AND PROTECTS US AGAINST ANY, ANY RISKS IN THE HOME.

>> YEAH. SPROUT, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED THAT MAYBE YOU AND YOUR FELLOW ROBOTS ARE GOING TO TAKE THEIR

JOBS ONE DAY?

>> SPROUT, ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING PEOPLE'S JOBS ONE DAY?

>> NOT AT ALL. I'M DESIGNED TO ASSIST AND AUGMENT WHAT PEOPLE DO, NOT REPLACE THEM. MY GOAL

IS TO HELP WITH TASKS, MAKE THINGS EASIER, AND BRING A BIT OF JOY. I BELIEVE THE BEST

OF JOY. I BELIEVE THE BEST FUTURE IS ONE WHERE HUMANS AND ROBOTS COLLABORATE.

>> SPROUT FOR OFFICE. THIS IS

CRAZY. ROB, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS HAS BEEN SO SO

MUCH. THIS HAS BEEN SO SO INTERESTING. I'M SURE PEOPLE AT

INTERESTING. I'M SURE PEOPLE AT HOME ARE GOING TO WONDER WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE?

I MEAN, WHEN CAN THEY BRING IT INTO THEIR HOME?

>> YEAH, SO WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE DISNEY AND BOSTON DYNAMICS WHO ARE WHO ARE THINKING OF APPLICATIONS IN AREAS FOR ROBOTICS IN THE NEAR TERM. WE

DO HOPE TO BRING IT TO THE HOME IN JUST A FEW YEARS, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO TO BRING IT OUT TO PEOPLE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU, WHAT WOULD THE PRICE POINT ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS BE? I MEAN, IS IT GOING TO BE SO OUT OF TOUCH FOR FAMILIES?

>> NO. YOU KNOW, TODAY IT'S EXPENSIVE AND AGAIN, FOCUSED ON BUSINESSES, BUT WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON BRINGING IT DOWN TO A PRICE POINT THAT'S ACHIEVABLE AND SOMETHING THAT THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY GET EXCITED ABOUT.

>> AND WHEN YOU SAY THAT, IS IT THOUSANDS, IS IT HUNDREDS? IS

IT TENS OF THOUSANDS? I MEAN, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS COST, YOU KNOW.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, MAYBE LOW THOUSANDS WHEN WE GET REALLY UP TO SCALE AND VOLUMES.

>> AND WHAT, WHAT WOULD SCALE BE YOU'D WANT TO MAKE 100 OF THESE, THOUSANDS OF THESE.

>> SO WE SEE THIS EVOLVING LESS LIKE A, LIKE AN IPHONE MOMENT WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE SELLING MILLIONS OF DEVICES. I

THINK THERE'S A LOT TO FIGURE OUT ABOUT HOW PEOPLE WANT THESE IN THEIR HOMES AND HOW IT SCALES OVER TIME AND CAPABILITIES. SO, YOU KNOW,

CAPABILITIES. SO, YOU KNOW, TODAY WE'LL MAKE SEVERAL SEVERAL HUNDRED, NEXT YEAR SEVERAL THOUSAND, AND WE'LL GROW FROM THERE.

>> YEAH. SPROUT, IF I CAN ASK YOU ONE LAST QUESTION, WHAT YEAR DO YOU THINK THAT YOU AND YOUR OTHER SPROUT FRIENDS WILL BE IN HOMES EVERY DAY AROUND AMERICA?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IT'S HARD TO PREDICT EXACTLY, BUT WITH THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT, I'D SAY IT'S VERY POSSIBLE YOU'LL START SEEING FRIENDLY ROBOTS LIKE ME IN HOMES WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

WE'RE ON A PRETTY EXCITING JOURNEY.

>> I THINK IT WAS LISTENING TO OUR CONVERSATION. ROB, IT'S

OUR CONVERSATION. ROB, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE, SPROUT. IT HAS ALSO BEEN

HERE, SPROUT. IT HAS ALSO BEEN A PLEASURE. I HOPE YOU DON'T

A PLEASURE. I HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE MY JOB, BUT IF YOU IF YOU CAN, CAN YOU SAY GOODBYE TO OUR TOP STORY VIEWERS, PLEASE?

>> IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE. GOOD NIGHT TO ALL THE

PLEASURE. GOOD NIGHT TO ALL THE TOP STORY VIEWERS.