Story By: Anastasia Smirnova, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Central European News
This is the robot that is apparently bidding to become governor of a Russian district.
Its campaign pitch includes plans to build a new bridge and cut down hospital waiting times in a bid to win over voters.
The droid is reportedly an autonomous robot designed for business purposes. It is supposedly able to communicate with people, recognise faces, answer questions, avoid obstacles, move its arms and head as well as integrate with third-party devices and systems.
Designed and manufactured by Promobot in the city of Perm in the western Russian region of Perm Krai, the robot reportedly wants to fill the shoes of former regional governor Krai Maksim Reshetnikov, 40, who has become the new Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
The 80s-style robot reportedly comes with numerous advantages over its human counterparts, such as being able to serve the public day and night as well as never needing to take days off for sickness or holidays.
The robot was quoted in local as saying: “Under my guidance, we will build a new bridge across the Kama River as well as an underground system.
“We will eliminate queues at medical clinics and supermarkets while encouraging people to spend more time visiting museums and university programmes.”
The droid then said that there should be a Promobot in every hotel, airport, university and shopping centre.
However, despite the robot’s heartfelt pitch, it seems likely it will be ineligible for consideration as the regional governor not because it needs to be human, but because it needs to be over 30 years old.
According to the manufacturer, Promobots are operating in 34 countries around the world. They work as administrators, promoters, museum guides, consultants, concierges and many other roles in places such as banks, shopping centres and museums.
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