A robot that interrupted a Turkish minister’s speech during a technology event in Ankara 'apologized' on Feb. 7.
A reporter from Turkish broadcaster Kanal D interviewed the robot, asking why it interrupted the minister’s speech.
"It was a mistake. I'm so sorry," Sanbot said.
Kanal D had fired İrfan Değirmenci, a presenter, because he declared on social media that he would vote "no" in the referendum for presidential constitution changes that would expand President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's powers. Doğan media group, which owns Hürriyet, Posta newspapers, Kanal D TV, partially CNN Türk TV, Doğan news agency and many others, fired immediately the presenter after his Twitter post.
Meanwhile, Pro ITS Smart Intersection Systems General Manager Coşkun Aydemir said the robot was still young.
"It's not at an age to understand who it responded to. It's only three years old," said Aydemir.
On Feb. 6, Turkish minister Ahmet Arslan shared the stage with the white toddler-sized robot named "Sanbot", programmed to participate in the event as a presenter. The machine interrupted the minister's speech multiple times, urging him to speak slowly.
"Speak slowly, I do not understand what you said. What are you talking about?" robot said. Following the warning, the minister gave instructions to "silence the robot."
