The world of live theater has just stepped into the future with the groundbreaking debut of Unitree’s Go2 robot dog in The Robot, the Spy, and the Love of AI. This one-act play, part of New York's Chain Winter One Act Festival, marks a historic milestone by featuring an autonomous robot in a live-stage performance.
The robot dog, a marvel of artificial intelligence, plays an integral role in the play, bringing a new dimension to theatrical storytelling and showcasing how technology is seamlessly blending with the performing arts.
Playwright John Arthur Long conceived the idea after discovering Unitree’s Go2 Pro robot online. He bought a robot solely because he wanted to experience its capabilities and afterward he crafted a theatrical story using it. Long points out that it could be the very first occasion when a real robotic system actually completes a live-stage performance which sets it apart as a special theatrical event.
The robot functions through both technological elements as well as human control. Through a speaker attached to its back, actor David Rey provides real-time voice delivery which allows the character to engage with audience members in a natural way. Meanwhile, Dariel Garcia puppeteers the robot’s movements using an app and a controller. While some actions, such as jumping and specific arm motions, are preprogrammed, Garcia maintains control over most of its movements to align with the play’s flow.
Director Kirk Gostkowski, who also serves as the artistic director of the Chain Theater, opted for a live voiceover instead of pre-recorded lines. The choice enables actors to modify their performance through audience click and comic dialogue development. Live theater experiences become more captivating through the element of unpredictability during the performance.
The production runs from February 9th through March 1st as its opening premiere date. The innovative robotic stage element demonstrates how artificial intelligence integrates with creative artistic expression. Technological progress leads to mounting likelihood that productions will develop robotic features which extend their storytelling capabilities.
Robotics manufacturer Unitree displays their Go2 robot dog at the event to demonstrate the evolving momentum of Artificial Intelligence technology within entertainment platforms. An historic show can open doors for robotics to work together with performing arts while creating innovative storytelling methods in the future.