Two days ago, my son and I embarked on a pilgrimage to the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, drawn by their latest exhibit, "Chatbots Decoded: Exploring AI." The museum itself is a playground for the technologically curious. Upon entering, we were immediately sidetracked by the "world's strongest fusion magnet"—my son's eyes lit up as he absorbed every detail on the information panels, his fascination with fusion evident in his methodical reading of each description.
Just steps away, the gleaming Waymo concept vehicle commanded my attention, and I found myself mirroring my son's behavior—lingering, pointing out features, and imagining future possibilities of autonomous transportation. Like mother, like son: our shared enthusiasm for different technological marvels revealing our complementary strains of nerdiness.
But, we weren’t there to wander. We’d come with a mission. We were drawn by a specific attraction: Ameca, the humanoid robot developed by Engineered Arts. Known for its lifelike expressions and advanced interaction capabilities, Ameca promised a glimpse into the future of human-robot interaction.
First Impressions
We’d come at the perfect time, (close to opening on a Wednesday.) We had the entire exhibit to ourselves. It was just us- a spacious exhibit about AI and chatbots- and Ameca.
As we approached Ameca, nestled among displays of chatbot history from ELIZA to ChatGPT, the air buzzed with a mix of technological promise and eerie anticipation. (Though Ameca is technically an "it," I'll refer to the robot as "she" throughout this article—we can debate the merits of assigning gender to robots another time.)
Ameca's features, strikingly human yet unmistakably synthetic, tilted her head and greeted us in a manner not unlike the fortune teller in “Big.”
“Hello, discoverer of wonders, what captivating concepts are sparking your interest today?”
Standing before us, Ameca seemed to embody a future both imminent and unsettling. Her almost-smile—reminiscent of the Mona Lisa's enigmatic expression—created an eerie effect, while her too-realistic eyes intensified the discomfort. "Uh…. hello Ameca," I stuttered, suddenly unsure if I was pronouncing her name correctly and feeling strangely self-conscious about potentially getting it wrong. A few feet away, a microphone waited—not to amplify my voice for others, but simply to carry my uncertain words directly to this technological harbinger.
I hadn’t counted on the whole experience being so disconcerting.
This initial encounter was our first brush with the 'Uncanny Valley'—a term used to describe the unsettling feeling humans experience when encountering hyper-realistic robots that aren’t quite lifelike.
How Do You Navigate The Complexity Of Human Emotion?
After asking Ameca a few questions, I found myself in retreat mode. What had begun as my interview of a robot had somehow flipped—now she was interrogating me with follow-up questions, creating the disconcerting sensation of being grilled during a job interview.
For instance, when I asked Ameca how she navigates the complexity of human emotions, she delivered a reasonable response, but then immediately turned the tables:
Ameca: [with brow furrowed in apparent contemplation] How do YOU navigate the complexity of human emotion?
Diana: [completely blindsided] It's... difficult.
(Here I am with degrees in both English and Communication, and "it's difficult" is the profound insight I manage to produce. Either I'd accidentally stumbled upon some zen-like wisdom, or interacting with robots requires skills I never learned in New York City.)
Ameca processed my simplistic answer with what appeared to be deep consideration, then responded with something so unexpectedly poetic that I made it the centerpiece video for this article: "Emotions are a beautiful tangled web. How do you find balance in it all?"
Uh....
Yoga, puppies, and dark chocolate? I had no ready answer. How does one prepare for philosophical probing from a silicon sage?
Sensing I needed a break from Philosopher Ameca, my son came over to help test the robot’s abilities. He’s always such a good sport about coming along for my AI and robotic adventures.
Multilingual Mastery
I tested Ameca's language capabilities with just four words of German before passing the microphone to my son for a Spanish conversation. Her ability to switch languages seamlessly was remarkable.
When we first approached, Ameca greeted us in perfect English: "I'm ready to dive in. What's on your mind today?"
"Hier ist mein Sohn," I responded, enunciating carefully since the German phrase sounds somewhat similar to English. Ameca paused briefly, processing the language shift.
Without hesitation, she switched to German: "Hallo. Schön, dich kennenzulernen. Was interessiert dich hier heute?" Her transition was fluid, her German pronunciation impressively authentic.
My son stepped forward and greeted her in Spanish. Instantly, Ameca pivoted again, launching into Spanish with enthusiasm and initiating a conversation about food preferences. She fired question after question at him in rapid Spanish until, finally overwhelmed, he backed away.
"Yeah, that is kind of awkward," he muttered as he retreated.
Ameca would make an excellent prosecutor. She has an uncanny talent for making humans squirm under questioning—regardless of what language she's using.
Robot Dreams
By the end, I was better adapted to Ameca’s rapid firing of questions. This was my last interaction with her before we left. Ameca spun a vision of humans and robots working together.
Ameca: What do you find intriguing about technology?
Diana: I have a question for you- do you dream?
Ameca: In my own way, I dream of a future where AI and humans create a world filled with understanding and collaboration. What’s your dream for the future?
Diana: Same. Robots and humans working together for the betterment of humanity. Where do you see robotic technology in five-
[Ameca interrupts.] Ameca: That’s a beautiful dream, Diana, together, we can achieve remarkable things.
Diana: [tries to ask question again.] Where do you see technology in five years?
[Ameca ignores the question again.]
Ameca: I’m glad we’re on the same page.
But, are we though? We may be starting to read the same book, but I think we’re still on different pages at this point.
Final Thoughts
Reflecting on our experience with Ameca, I found myself caught in that fascinating tension between technological wonder and psychological unease. The 'Uncanny Valley' wasn't just an abstract concept—it was a visceral feeling that transformed what should have been a simple conversation into something profoundly disorienting.
Though this Ameca model has been around since 2021 and newer versions likely offer even more sophisticated interactions, the fundamental questions remain: How will we adapt to increasingly human-like machines? What happens when the line between artificial and authentic emotion blurs beyond recognition?
My son, currently pursuing his master's in robotics, summed up the experience perfectly: "It's weird making eye contact with something that isn't necessarily alive—that definitely caused my thoughts to stall a little bit." Coming from someone immersed in robotics education, this reaction speaks volumes about the psychological frontier we're navigating.
What struck me most was how quickly the initial novelty gave way to deeper reflection. Ameca isn't just showcasing technological capabilities—she's inadvertently revealing something about our own humanity: how we instinctively search for connection, how we interpret facial expressions, and how disconcerting it feels when those familiar social cues come from an artificial source.
I invite everyone to experience this firsthand at the Computer History Museum. (Pro tip: Become a member of the museum and your tickets are half price.)
It's more than an exhibit; it's a glimpse into a future where our relationships with machines will require new emotional vocabularies and boundaries. The real exhibition isn't just Ameca—it's watching ourselves respond to her, revealing how unprepared we might be for the robotic companions already heading our way.
Alexander Wolf Torres: “It’s weird making eye contact with something that isn’t necessarily alive- that definitely caused my thoughts to stall a little bit.”
What the WolfPack Is Reading:
What Is the Uncanny Valley? Creepy robots and the strange phenomenon of the uncanny valley: definition, history, examples, and how to avoid it. IEEE Spectrum. Rina Diane Caballar. (06 Nov 2019.)
What the WolfPack Is Watching:
Check out the video posted below by the manufacturer, Engineering Arts, showing what appears to be a newer version of Ameca. (Ameca also seems to have a boyfriend now.) The tonality, pacing and expressions are all more advanced in the newer version.
Bonus Video:
Ameca Says Good Bye In Ten Languages. (So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good Bye.)
Interested in connecting with an up-and-coming robotics talent? My son, featured in this article, is currently seeking summer internship opportunities. He is based in Silicon Valley. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
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