IDLab-AIRO showcased two social robots arguing about contentious topics at the 2024 edition of Flanders Technology and Innovation in Antwerp.

Two AI-powered social robots argued with each other at the 2024 edition of Flanders Technology and Innovation, which was held at a range of locations across the region.

The installation at the flagship event in the Antwerp “Sportpaleis” demonstrated how Large Language Models (LLM) could be used to imbue social robots with conversational skills. But rather than letting the robots talk to people, the robots engaged in a battle of wits against each other. The audience was asked to suggest a topic. Best way to eat spaghetti, the best football player of all times, tensions in the Middle East, or mayonnaise or ketchup – anything goes. We used LLMs to pick two opposing characters for the robots, and let characters argue for a few minutes. Rhetorical sparks flew, but most arguments were settled by the bots agreeing to disagree.

PS: Giulio Abbo wrote a short blogpost on how to build a research demo that has impact.