The breakthrough that makes robot faces feel less creepy

When people talk face to face, nearly half of their attention is drawn to the movement of the lips. Despite this, robots still have great difficulty moving their mouths in a convincing way. Even the most advanced humanoid machines often rely on stiff, exaggerated mouth motions that resemble a puppet, assuming they have a face at all.

Humans place enormous importance on facial expression, especially subtle movements of the lips. While awkward walking or clumsy hand gestures can be forgiven, even small mistakes in facial motion tend to stand out immediately. This sensitivity contributes to what scientists call the "Uncanny Valley," a phenomenon where robots appear unsettling rather than lifelike. Poor lip movement is a major reason ...