Toshiba’s Akimu Robotic Research Institute was able to successfully program a robot to feel affection for humans. Unfortunately repeated work on fine-tuning the emotion programming translated into an obsessive passion for humans on which this robot named “Kenji” focused its attention. A research assistant working alone with Kenji was prevented from leaving the lab and hugged repeatedly by the robot until she was able to summon co-workers to de-activate Kenji.

Dr. Takahashi, the chief researcher on the robotic project, said, “This is only a minor setback. I have full faith that we will one day live side by side with, and eventually love and be loved by, robots.”

Remind me to be more careful shopping for electronics, especially with the Toshiba brand name on them.