Talk to a Robot!
2025 — interaktive live-Performance
Co-Regisseur, Performer, Programmierer
A one-on-one performance for individual participants, in which an industrial robotic arm was remotely controlled live via a VR setup. The performer’s movements were translated directly to the machine, enabling the robotic arm to display „human/organic“ body language. Participants entered alone and activated the robot with the press of a button. The robot (the performer utilizing a voice modulator) then engaged them in conversation, while live music and visuals were generated and controlled in real time by Navid Razav.
Participants were left in the dark as to whether they were interacting with an AI or a human. In a naive manner, the robot drew them into a dialogue about humanity and the human experience. The encounter remained completely fluid, following no fixed script. The character and its narrative were largely improvised to deeply connect with the participants, fostering a genuine encounter between „machine“ and human.
Depending on the individual participant, this approach resulted in entirely distinct performances — ranging from deeply philosophical and intellectual conversations to playful interactions driven primarily by reciprocal body language.
Here is one such encounter from the initial test runs:
Our playful advertisement slogans for the performance:
Feeling existential dread?
Then talk to a robot!
Are you happy and satisfied?
Then talk to a robot!
Is your life depressing and dull?
Then talk to a robot!
Do you feel loved and cared for?
Then talk to a robot!
Is your robot lost and confused?
Then talk to a robot!
Is your therapist a cat?
Then talk to a robot!
Have you eaten all the cereal?
Then talk to a robot!
Have you seen this text?
Then talk to a robot!
Have you talked to a robot?
