DHAKA: A future in which it is difficult to tell man and machine apart could soon become reality, scientists say, after recent robotic breakthroughs in Japan.

But as the once-fantastical idea of wise-cracking android sidekicks takes form in laboratories and the gap between humans and robots narrows society faces ethical and legal complications as yet undreamed of, they warn.

“Already computers have surpassed human ability,” leading Japanese roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro said. “Robots will be very clever soon.”

Science fiction’s rapid slide towards science fact owes much to the likes of Ishiguro, who has an android copy of himself that he sends on overseas business trips in his place.

‘It saves me time,’ he smiled. “The upper torso and lower torso you can pack in two big suitcases. The head is very fragile it goes as carry on baggage.”

Robots already perform a wide variety of tasks in Japan they cook noodles, help patients undergo physiotherapy and have been used in the clean-up after the 2011 nuclear meltdown at Fukushima.

South Korea deploys jellyfish-terminating robots, while a robot with artificial intelligence able to analyze market trends has become a company director in Hong Kong.

One day, predict future-gazers, robots will perform all kinds of household chores, monitor the sick, and even serve up cappuccinos.

BDST: 1220 HRS, JULY 16, 2014