(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
BARCELONA—I'm convinced the next Michael Jackson is a humanoid robot.
At a Showstoppers event ahead of the Mobile World Congress, I came across a robot that can dance almost as well as the King of Pop. Designed by Shanghai-based AI robotics company AgiBot, the X2 robot has human-like joints, allowing it to perform all kinds of dance moves.
For its first number, the robot performed a martial arts-inspired dance routine, crouching low while waving its arms side to side. Its movements were synchronized with relaxing music emanating from its body. At one point, it kicked up a foot, and I was worried it might fall over, but the humanoid expertly shifted its weight, remaining upright the entire time. The first routine lasted about 45 seconds, prompting complaints from some audience members about its brevity, but that was apparently just the warm-up.
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In its second act, which lasted about two minutes, the robot played an upbeat instrumental track while showcasing its hip-hop skills. It started with a heel-toe move, as onlookers watched in wonder with growing smiles. The robot waved its arms in the air while turning side to side. Then, in perhaps the most meta moment ever, it did the robot. Needless to say, I was amazed.
I could have watched the robot all day, but after its second act, I forced myself to move on (there's tons to see at tech conventions, so I try not to linger on one thing for too long). Apparently, I missed the best part. I didn't see it with my own eyes, but according to a colleague, the X2 did a full split, landing on the precious marble floor of the Palacio Real de Pedralbes with a loud thud.
Turns out, the X2 isn't just a better dancer than me, but more flexible as well. Considering I'm a yoga teacher, that's pretty impressive.