Is Pleo for Real?

In August of 2006 there was a brief controversy surrounding the legitimacy of Pleo based on a comparison of two demo videos.

The video shows Pleo performing what appears to be a script while UGOBE claims that Pleo changes his behavior based on his environment and upbringing.

Watch the video “debunking” Pleo. Then read the company's response.

The Video

The Response

PleoBot.com contacted UGOBE about the video. Here is their response:

My name is Khristine and I work with UGOBE on the PR front. UGOBE forwarded me your e-mail regarding the recent YouTube videos questioning Pleo’s legitimacy. We were all surprised to see this post and the reaction to it as well. In response, and on behalf of UGOBE, I want to let you know that both of the videos in the YouTube post were made for DEMO 2006.

The DEMO Conference offers all presenters exactly six minutes to demonstrate their new products before a live audience. Real working Pleo units will evolve over time by autonomously interacting with the environment, using true AI. But, the prototype version in this demonstration video is not a full working model and was meant to just give people a taste – in condensed form – of Pleo’s range of behaviors and movements.

In the YouTube posting, the video on the right was taped at the conference. The one on the left is simply a backup of the first.

In short, Ugobe defends the legitimacy of the product but admits that the video shows two separate takes of a scripted demo intended to highlight Pleo's range of behaviors.

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