After last week Sony unveiled Rolly, its egg-shaped digital player that is able to move on music rhythm, today at Wired NextFest Hanson Robotics went impressively further as they introduced “Zeno,” a robot boy that uses artificial intelligence (AI) software to reason and get smarter over time.

Zone was built using the software developed by Massive Software, the company responsible of AI simulation software used in films such as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Happy Feet, Ratatouille.

“In just three-and-a-half months, Hanson Robotics developed a way for Zeno to interface with Massive, which is incredibly exciting for us,” said Diane Holland, CEO, Massive Software. “With very little modifications to our software, they are controlling the physical actions and reactions of a robot in the real world, which has very exciting implications for Massive in a variety of markets outside of the animation industry.”

Zeno is is 17” tall, weighs 6 lbs, runs on lithium polymer batteries and it’s able to lean the names and faces of the people. Thanks to its 28 built-in servos, integrated in legs, torso, arms and face, Zeon can move, lie down, get up to standing, gesture with his arms, smile, make eye contact, open and close his eyes, mouth.

According to Hanson Robotics' founder, David Hanson, Zeno is not just an artificial robotic toy, but as an interactive learning companion, a synthetic pal who can engage in conversation and convey human emotion through a face made of a skin-like, patented material.

"It's a representation of robotics as a character animation medium, one that is intelligent," Hanson beams. "It sees you and recognizes your face. It learns your name and can build a relationship with you."

“The technology incorporated in Zeno has a huge potential for the consumer home entertainment market,” added David Hanson. “Zeno’s pre-defined movements and actions have unlimited permutations and he will get smarter and more aware over time. The goal is to bring it to market as a children’s toy, able to tutor, express and teach a variety of different subjects.”