Pepper is at it again. Previously we've heard of the robot being used within mobile phones stores, estate agents and hospitals to greet customers but now it's available for hire as a Buddhist priest for funerals?
Pepper was on display at a funeral industry fair - the Life Ending Industry Expo - in Tokyo on Wednesday, Nissei Eco, a Japanese plastic moulding and funereal services company will offer the robot as an attendant, dressed in a Buddhist priest's robe.
Apparently this is a cost-cutting exercise as renting Pepper would cost less than hiring a human priest, and some temples are short of money due to unstable forms of community support.
How would you feel about having a robot presiding over your funeral? Given the levels of respect and sympathy you would expect at such a ceremony do you think it's a bad idea to introduce autonomy? Or could robots play a pivitol role in funeral ceremonies when priests aren't available/affordable?
I think it would be really distracting at a funeral, which are often (but not always depending on the culture) sombre affairs. Guess it depends what you're looking for in a funeral priest!