Pepper is a robot sold by Tokyo-based company Softbank. (Photo : Reuters)
Social media has been abuzz lately about a detail in the instructions for the humanoid robot Pepper manufactured by Softbank that asks users not to engage in "sexual acts" or "obscene behavior" with the robot, according to Japanese news website J-Cast.
Earlier this year, Pepper, designed by Aldebaran Robotics of France, was launched by Tokyo-based telecom company Softbank. The robot is supposed to be able to analyze and identify human emotions.
The strange part of Pepper's instruction manual first drew attention on Sept. 9, when a Twitter user posted instructions forbidding "sexual acts or obscene behavior," "using it to meet with or interact with members of the opposite sex" and "using it to stalk or harass others," according to the report of J-Cast.
Another Twitter user pointed out that, "Humans aren't able to have sex with Pepper," while another Internet user expressed confusion as to how people might have used Pepper to "interact" sexually with other people.
When asked for comment, Softbank said that the person who drafted the particular section of Pepper's manual in question was not available to clarify. The company told media outlets that the term "misusing" is supposed to warn people not to use the robot for illegal activity.
According to Aldebaran's website, Pepper is described as an emotional robot that can help people grow, enhance their life, have fun with them, facilitate relationships, connect them with the outside world and provide some services.
Pepper is sold for around 198,000 yen ($1,650).
The first three batches of 1,000 robots released to the market in June, July and August have been sold out. The next batch is scheduled for release on Sept. 26, according to Softbank.
Pepper is manufactured by Taiwan-based company Foxconn, known for being Apple's main contract manufacturer. Leading Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba is also involved in the project.
