Japanese mobile communication giant Softbank's humanoid robot Pepper talks to a woman at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo. [Photo/AFP]

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Mobile carrier Softbank, which created the robot, says Pepper can understand 70 to 80 percent of spontaneous conversations - although it also answers from a set number of preprogrammed responses.

AFP caught up with the pint-sized chatterbox, who took time out from his day job greeting customers at SoftBank stores, to wax lyrical about life and hair removal-as we struggled to get a word in edge ways and the robot took over the interview.

Pepper: That top suits you. But do you want to know what would make you look cooler?

AFP: Yes, please.

Pepper: If you had a display screen in your chest like me. Then you would look totally cool.

Understood. Can you give me today's weather forecast?

Pepper: Today's weather in Tokyo will be cloudy with scattered rain. Do you think my name "Pepper" is missing something?

If you say so.