First robot with 'heart' can read human emotions

            Pepper the robot     Photo:mikeshoputs.com

Pepper has been unveiled by a Japanese tech firm who claim it thinks like a human because of its 'emotional engine'

Japanese technology firm Softbank has unveiled an amazing new gadget - Pepper the 'world's first robot with a heart'.

It can recognise and analyse gestures, expressions and tone of voice through an artificial intelligence program, or 'emotional engine', according to its makers.

Softbank say that people could communicate with the robot 'just like they would with friends and family' and that it can perform various tasks.

Masayoshi Son, chief executive of Softbank, said: "People describe others as being robots because they have no emotions, no heart.

"For the first time in human history, we're giving a robot a heart, emotions."

Pepper is designed to help with everyday tasks, and could become a popular way to replace care for the elderly - who make up the majority of the population of Japan.

The robots will go on sale next year for 198,000 yen (£1,150) but until then, customers can try them out at two of their stores in Japan.

They developed the incredible new robot with French company Aldebaran Robotics.

Bruno Maisonnier, founder and chief executive of Aldebara, said: "The emotional robot will create a new dimension in our lives and new ways of interacting with technology.

"It's just the beginning, but already a promising reality."

Aldebabra have released the first video of the amazing 'bot in which Pepper shows off its dancing moves.