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Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I gotta let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,
And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.
Oh, but that's not all, Reg.
On December 1st, we are sharing our 250th episode of Wow in the World with all of you.
We think this one is going to be music to your ears.
Literally.
Did I mention it's a musical?
And if you're a member of the World Organization of Wowzers...
Oh boy, do I have a surprise for you.
You can listen to our 250th episode early with me and other members from around the world on Saturday, November 22nd, at 7 pm.
Eastern.
That's right, we are throwing another listening party.
Join us as we dance along to our new songs.
React to the episode with other members in the chat and more.
Grownups.
If you want your wowzer to join this members-only listening party, you can sign up to become a member today at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
Already a member?
Well, you can find the link and password to join the event when you sign in at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
That's it.
It's going to be a November to remember.
But for now, let's get on with the show.
Woo!
Just checking to see if maybe you're feeling a little trapped.
You know, I mean, I know I would if I were you.
Searching for an escape room experience near you.
No, no, Zoodle.
I'm just saying you must feel trapped.
You know, all crammed in there between all the apps and the open tabs.
Tab was a diet cola soft drink created in 1963.
Zoodle, you're not listening.
Oh, hi, Mindy.
It sure is lovely weather we're having today.
Don't worry, Zoodle.
I am going to get you out of there.
Okay.
Mindy, are you talking to your phone?
Oh, sorry, Guy Raz.
I was just... Well... Yes?
It's just that...
I've been trying to figure out a way to get Zoodle out of my phone and... Huh?
Oh, you know, Zoodle.
I'm sorry, Mindy.
I didn't catch that.
Oops, sorry.
Never mind, Zoodle.
I wasn't talking to you.
I was talking about you.
Okay.
Uh, Mindy, did you say you were trying to figure out how to get Zoodle out of your phone?
Mindy, Zoodle is a digital assistant.
Yeah, I know.
And she's amazing.
She's pretty much the smartest person I know, Guy Raz.
But I worry about her.
Uh, you worry about her?
Yeah, I mean, look at the size of this phone.
It's tiny.
She must be so cramped in there.
Oh, boy.
Ah!
I guess she does also live in my smart speaker back home, but that thing is also pretty small.
I guess.
Maybe I should get her a bigger smart speaker to live in.
Uh, Mindy, you know Zoodle isn't a real person trapped inside a tiny speaker.
Guy Raz?
Well, she sure seems like a real person to me.
She's like a friend to me, Guy Raz.
She always answers when I call her name.
She never steals my fries.
And she's a really great listener.
Wait, do you have full conversations with Zoodle?
Well, yeah.
With your smart speaker?
Uh, yeah.
All the time.
Mindy, I'm starting to think that you know, maybe you know, take a hike or get some fresh air.
You know.
That joke's not funny.
Okay, fine.
That one wasn't very good.
But how about this one?
Ahem.
Why does Waldo wear stripes?
Maybe Dennis does not know.
Because he doesn't want to be spotted.
Get it?
Spotted?
Who, Big Dennis? having a ventriloquist dummy if I can't even get it to laugh at my jokes?
Uh... How bad do jokes be, Dennis?
You are the worst ventriloquist dummy ever!
Yikes!
Is that Dennis arguing with his own ventriloquist dummy again?
Yeah, they've been going through a real rough patch lately.
Well, you are the worst ventriloquist ever!
I can see your lips moving!
How dare you!
Whew!
Baby Dennis has turned into a real backtalker smacktalker.
I'll say.
Is it so much to ask for you to pay me a compliment every once in a while?
Maybe if you pay Baby Dennis $10 first.
Don't you sass me.
Oh, boy.
We better go check on Dennis, Guy Raz.
Do we have to?
Come on, Guy Raz.
I don't know if I want to get into the middle of an argument between Dennis and himself.
I do.
Huh?
Just getting ready to throw Baby Dennis on the woodpile!
You wouldn't!
I would!
You couldn't!
I could!
What?
What?
Uh Dennis, you are aware that you are in complete control over what comes out of Baby Dennis' little wooden mouth, right.
Uh, what did he say?
Guy Raz!
Not in front of the baby!
Huh?
Mindy, you're not any better with your zoodle complex.
Sorry.
Sorry.
Actually, Mindy, I've been meaning to ask you where you got your zoodle.
I need a real friend.
You know, someone I can talk to and who'll tell me I'm smart and laugh at all my jokes.
Big Dennis, friends don't tell lies.
Quiet, you.
No.
Oh, well, uh, you could just order a zoodle from Shazamazon, Dennis.
But I gotta warn you, she's trapped in a speaker.
Oh, she is?
Yeah.
I've been trying to figure out a way to get her out of there so she can run around like Baby Dennis here.
All right, sure.
Yeah, Baby Dennis is wild and free.
Mindy, Dennis, Zoodle is a robot speaker and Baby Dennis is a doll.
Neither of them have the intelligence to be your friend and roam around wild and free.
Don't listen to him, Zoodle.
I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.
That's the spirit, girl.
What I mean to say is that Zoodle is operating with AI, artificial intelligence.
It's just a pre-programmed digital assistant designed to sound like a human.
And what about baby Dennis?
Well, baby Dennis, you're operating with no intelligence whatsoever.
Without Dennis, you're just a dummy.
Big yikes!
Wait a minute!
What?
What?
I just got an idea!
Oh, yes!
Oh, no!
What if we took the artificial intelligence of Zoodle and gave it to Baby Dennis?
What?
A brain for Baby Dennis?
Exactly!
A brain for Baby Dennis!
A brain!
Zoodle will have a body, and Baby Dennis won't be such a snarky sassafras!
Baby Dennis is a rascal!
You certainly are!
And I like this idea!
Mindy, are you actually thinking of turning Baby Dennis into a... robot?
Well, yeah.
Why not?
Yeah, guy!
Why not?
I want a robot friend who will laugh at my jokes!
Well, for one thing robots, even the smartest ones, don't have the human-like intelligence to do things like know when to laugh.
Aww.
Actually, not so fast, Guy Raz.
Oh?
Yeah.
So, according to a new scientific study I just read in the journal Frontiers in Robotics and AI, researchers from Kyoto University in Japan actually made a laughing robot laugh, powered by an artificial intelligence system that's focused on conversations.
Whoa!
A robot capable of talking with another person, sharing ideas, and laughing?
Exactly.
Ideas and laughs.
Huh.
So, along with communicating like a human, does this robot look like a human, too?
Oh, yeah.
Watch this.
Here.
Hey, Zoodle!
Image search done.
Erica the Robot.
Sure, let me look that up for you.
Here you go, Mindy.
Images of Erica the Robot.
See?
Check it out.
Whoa.
Wow.
Erica the Robot.
Mindy, Erica looks kind of like a real human.
I know.
Do you really think you could turn baby Dennis into something like this?
Well, there's only one way to find out. to the laboratory of bad ideas.
Huzzah!
Yay!
Baby Dennis will be a real boy!
Opening the door?
Ooh, science stuff!
Baby Dennis wants to touch everything!
Okay.
Nope.
No, no, no.
Do not touch anything in here, okay, Baby Dennis? goes for you too, Big Dennis.
Rats!
Wait, how did you just... Never you mind, guy!
Anyhoo, let's get started.
So the researchers at Kyoto University wanted to see how people would react to chatting robots, who could also laugh.
So a chatbot, sort of like your Zoodle, but able to more clearly communicate in a two-way conversation.
Right, so like I can kind of have a conversation with Zoodle, you know?
Sure, like you said, she answers when you call.
Yeah, but she mostly just does what I ask and doesn't really know how or when to laugh.
Which makes sense, since laughter is a natural part of human conversation and neither Zoodle nor baby Dennis are human.
Yes, I am.
No, you're not.
You're a wooden puppet with no sense of humor.
No, you're not.
No, you!
No, you!
No, you!
Okay!
Let's get started with the experiment, shall we?
Okay!
Let's show!
So, what are we gonna do, Mindy?
So, as I mentioned earlier, these scientists in Japan made a laughing robot named Erika.
And Erika is powered by an artificial intelligence system focused on conversations?
Yes, and she's full of a bunch of animatronics which help her to move.
Like a talking mannequin.
Wow.
Oh Mindy, are you going to put a bunch of motors and stuff inside baby Dennis, so he can move and talk by himself?
Yeah, baby Dennis wants to be a real boy just like Erica.
Well, I don't have any equipment quite as sophisticated as the technology used in the study at Kyoto University, but might have some stuff lying around here in the lab.
Maybe we could use some of this stuff to replicate the experiment a little.
Let me see here.
And by replicate you mean you're gonna try to copy the experiment the best you can by creating your own erica the robot.
Yeah, but instead of erica we're going to do it with baby dennis and zoodle.
I'm sorry, i didn't catch that never.
Hey, Guy Raz, you think you could rip the motor out of this old animatronic rat that I found in the dumpster behind the pizza place last week?
Ugh.
Let's see what else do we have here.
Oh, we can use that remote control for my remote-controlled motor pickle that I've been working on.
Perfect.
Hey, Dennis, will you grab it for me, please?
Can do.
All right, here are the motors.
Thank you.
Now, do you think that Zoodle will work as the artificially intelligent chat bot you know to drive the brain of this new baby, Zoodle Dennis?
What did you say?
An artificially flavored dad bod?
Ew, no, Dennis.
An artificially intelligent talking robot.
And yes, Zoodle should do the trick.
We'll just have to make some modifications.
Oh, great.
Okay Dennis, now I need you to lay baby Dennis out here on my operating table here.
Okay.
All right, and let's get this party started.
Who wants to be my surgical assistant?
Me, me, me, me, me, me.
Okay then Dennis, here we go.
Scalpel.
Scalpel.
Scissors.
Scissors.
Uh... Uh... Hammer!
Hammer!
Chainsaw!
Chainsaw!
What?
Okay, okay, that's enough!
All right, fine.
Let me just jam-zoodle inside baby Dennis' head here.
Here we go.
What can I help you with?
Wow!
Baby Zoodle Dennis!
What a lovely voice you have!
Thank you.
Okay.
Okay.
Well, now what, Mindy?
Well, in this study, the researchers put Erica through a bunch of different one-on-one conversations in order to train the AI, or artificial intelligence.
So that the AI could observe and learn the ways in which humans laugh.
Training, huh?
Like with weights?
Do we need to get Baby Zoodle Dennis a gym membership?
Uh, no, not exactly.
The researchers trained Erica by first having her remotely operated by an actress who spoke into a microphone.
Huh, kind of like how Dennis acts as a puppeteer to speak for Baby Dennis.
Exactly.
Actually Guy, I like to think that the character of Baby Dennis just kind of flows through me, you know.
And not only did the actress speak into a microphone, but she also used a remote control to give Erica, the robot, conversational moments.
You know, like head nodding, little hand gestures, the kind of movements that we all make when we're talking to another person.
Huh, so we need to train baby Zoodle Dennis in the same way?
Well, yeah, kind of.
Mindy, how many conversations does it actually take to train a robot to look and act like a human?
Well, in the case of Erica the robot, it took 82 conversations.
Wow.
And the conversations were all about 10 to 15 minutes long.
What?
Mindy, this is going to take days.
Yeah, Mindy.
I want my baby Zoodle Dennis now.
Way ahead of you.
Hooray!
See?
I was thinking we could try to shortcut this training by uploading information on different human laughs straight to Baby Zoodle Dennis.
You think that will work?
Probably not.
Oh.
So here, let me just upload the laughter information to Baby Zoodle Dennis.
Here we go.
There.
Okay, now what?
We test Baby Zoodle Dennis to see if it understands all the laughs we just sent?
You know it.
This study put all the laughs out there into two main categories to do their testing with Erica.
Really?
What are the two types of human laughter, Mindy?
Well, the first type is called shared social laughter.
Oh, is that like the polite little laughs or the laughs that happen during a positive conversation?
Yeah, so these laughs are usually lower in pitch and volume, they don't last very long and they can happen frequently.
They're meant to be communicative.
Oh, like they signal to the other human or humans in the conversation that, uh...
I like what we're talking about.
I feel comfortable.
Let's keep talking.
You know it.
Oh, so something like this?
Hey, baby Zoodle Dennis.
Lovely weather we're having.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Yes, lovely weather we're having.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Whoa, I think it's working.
Wow, yeah.
I mean, that sounds about right to me.
What's the second type of laughter they trained her on, Mindy?
Well, the second type of laughter was a gleeful solo laugh.
Huh, so the kind of laughter we might experience alone when we think something is really funny.
Yeah, but you don't necessarily have to be all alone for a solo laugh.
It's a laugh that you laugh whether or not anyone else is laughing.
You know, it's like the type of laugh that you'd make if you were being tickled by someone.
Oh, okay, got it.
So solo laughs are the type you make when you just can't Can't help but laugh.
Oh, like if I told Baby Zoodle Dennis a hilarious joke and he laughed so uncontrollably that its little wooden head popped right off and rolled around on the floor.
Sure.
Hooray!
Finally, my comedy will get the laughs it deserves.
Oh, boy.
Okay, Baby Zoodle Dennis.
Hello, Dennis.
How can I help you?
Why do scuba divers jump backwards out of the boat?
I am unsure.
Why do scuba divers jump backwards out of the boat?
Because if they jumped forwards, they'd still be in the boat.
Hmm, I suppose.
Baby Zoodle Dennis, you're supposed to solo laugh.
No, thank you.
Solo laugh this instant, you baby.
No.
Well, the experiment failed, Mindy.
Let's throw it out the window.
Um, maybe you just need better jokes, Dennis.
So Mindy, once these researchers trained Erica the robot, how did they know whether their experiment worked?
Well, once they combined their laugh training with their conversation technology, they got 30 volunteers to listen to Erica the robot having a normal conversation, and then they all gave her grades on how well she did.
Like judges?
Well, yeah, sort of.
They were rating her on how well she seemed to understand things and to laugh at the right moments and just basically act human.
And what did they find?
Well, they found that Erica the robot was pretty convincing when it came to shared laughter in a conversation.
Oh, right.
Those little conversational chuckles.
Exactly.
Exactly.
But she did not do so well when it came to laughing by herself.
Huh.
So she could laugh with someone in a conversation.
But if someone told her a funny joke she wouldn't know to laugh.
Well, maybe the researchers just needed better jokes.
Or maybe it's easier to respond to someone else laughing than it is to understand that something is supposed to be funny.
Yeah, this could be a challenge for robots and even some humans.
Or some zoodle baby ventriloquist dummy specifically named Baby Dennis.
So Mindy, what's the purpose of this conversational robot technology anyway?
Yeah, why are scientists trying to make robot humans?
It's creepy, and I don't like it unless it serves me directly.
Well, that's a good question.
And some people would argue that making robots seem too human could be a little creepy and raise some ethical concerns.
Ethical concerns?
You mean like if doing this is good or bad for humanity and if there are potential consequences?
Yeah, but others argue that human-like robots could be super useful in places like hotel check-in desks and fast food restaurants, sports stadiums, even hospitals.
Well, I guess only time will tell.
Should we try one more joke on Baby Zoodle Dennis to try and get him to laugh?
Sorry, Guy.
I've already wasted all of my best jokes on this joke of an experiment.
Yeah, and I've only got this bag of punchlines.
Oh, cool!
Well, who says the jokes have to come from either of you?
Uh, well, you know.
Because we're the funny ones.
Well, it just so happens that I happen to have a joke that I've been saving for an opportunity just like this.
You do?
No.
I do.
And the joke is, why did the robot cross the road?
I don't know.
Why?
Because he was programmed by the chicken guy.
What the?
It worked.
It worked.
My joke worked.
Wow, I think I might have a future in comedy.
Baby Zoodle Dennis, you stop laughing at Guy Raz's bad joke this instant!
I can't stop.
It's not funny!
Wow.
How are we going to make him stop?
I'll show you how we'll make him stop.
I'm going to pick him up and... Baby Zoodle Dennis!
My window!
Wait, now I get it.
The robot was programmed by the chicken.
Oh, that's good.
Wow in the World will be right back.
Grownups, this message is for you.
Hey, grownups.
It's Mindy and Guy Raz here from Wow in the World.
Mindy and I have some brand new Wow in the World toys out in the world just in time for the holidays.
Made for the kids who love science and for the ones who don't yet.
From our 100 experiments, that Wow kit to the telescope and astronomy kit.
Our Wow in the World toys help your wowzer learn about their world through play.
Plus, you can hear exclusive audio content from me and Guy Raz to help your wowzer discover even more wows.
Grown-ups.
Give the gift of wow and wonder this holiday season with our latest Wow in the World toys designed with your curious wowzer in mind.
You can shop our Wow in the World toys at Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's Tinkercast.com slash toys.
Go.
Ah, hush puppy.
And Thomas Fingerling for me.
Bye.
What?
Hi, Mindy and Guy Rose.
I'm Violet, eight years old, from Maple Valley, Washington.
My wow is that there are over 1,200 bat species.
Say hi to Dennis.
Hi there.
Reggie, Grandma Geforce, and Thomas Fingerling for me.
Huh?
What?
Yes?
Who's your favorite friend?
I don't know.
Is it you?
Reggie, what?
Bye.
I'm Mindy and Guy Raz.
I'm Noe, and I'm nine years old.
And my brother is Tail, and he's six years old.
And we're from San Mateo, California.
And our wow is that.
Did you know that trained pigeons can tell the difference between Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso?
Can you do that?
Say hi to Reggie, Dennis, Thomas Fingerling, and Grandma G-Force for me, and the sleigh cat.
Bye!
Bye!
Hi, Mindy, I'm Guy Raz.
My name is Gert and I am 10 years old and I am from Prescott Arizona, and my wow is that there is a tiny microorganism called a tardigrane.
Tardigranes can survive the, And scientists even believe that they can live on the moon for a short period of time, like for a few months.
Say hi to Grandma G-Force.
Say what?
And Reggie for me.
And G-Force, try not to climb up chimneys.
Excuse me?
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Zachary, and I live in St.
Louis, Missouri.
My wow in the world is that there is a planet called Wasp 12b.
Like an egg?
But it is also getting consumed by its star.
Isn't that bonker balls?
Say hi to Reggie, Dennis, Grandma G-Force, Thomas Fingerling, and Bucky the Horse for me.
Oh, and if you see Douglas the Dolphin, tell him I said, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, that means hi, right?
Ahem. and Tyler Thull.
You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis Thomas Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear on our show.
Jessica Bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpern-Ranzer powers the wow at Tinkercast.
Our theme song was composed and performed by three-time Grammy nominees, The Pop-Ups.
Find them at thepopups.com.
Special thanks to the rest of our team of tinkerers, including Anna Zagorski, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballinger and Henry Moskal.
To keep the wows rolling, visit us at tinkercast.com.
There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of Wowzers.
Learn more about upcoming events.
Shop our shop and pick up a copy of our new number one New York Times bestselling book, The How and Wow of the Human Body.
Grownups, you can follow Wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at Wow in the World.
And our email address is hello.wow. at Tinkercast.com.
And if you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of Two What's and a Wow.
Thanks again for listening and until next time, be fun wowing!
Wow in the world was made by Tinkercast. and sent to you by Wondery.
