I, Robot? Bicentennial Man? Far, far, off. But at least a basic empathy software for robots is in the works. Feelix Growing is currently developing such software which can reportedly tell if a person is happy, sad, or perhaps, angry. The software can reportedly be used on ordinary robots using sensors and cameras. The robot loaded with the software learns through artificial neural networks, which are responsible for determining different parameters including voice and facial expressions.

Just like a human who gleans lessons from experience, the robot does too. In time, as it gets a taste of human emotions, it could learn to back away when someone looks scared or even respond to a human's happiness. The aim of the project is to develop robots which can adapt to human behaviors and serve people in need such as the ill and the elderly, or serve as domestic helpers and entertainers.