Would you like a robot companion?

6 Minute English

BBC

Language Learning, Education

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 18 September 2025

⏱️ 7 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Many of us could use extra help around the house – but what if that help came from a robot? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.

Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-250918

THE LONDON LETTER CHALLENGE for elementary learners: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the_london_letter_challenge/

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Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts.
0:05.6	Do you know someone who is starting to learn English?
0:10.5	We have a new easy video series just for them,
0:15.3	the London Letter Challenge.
0:18.0	Three teams race around London to find eight letters which will take them to the winning crowns.
0:26.7	Watch the series on our website now, BBC learningenglish.com.
0:32.2	6 Minute English from BBC LearningEnglish.com.
0:41.0	Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
0:45.2	I'm Neil.
0:45.9	And I'm Beth.
0:47.3	One area of technology, which has been in the news a lot recently, is robotics,
0:53.4	the design and building of robots. Humanoid robots, meaning
0:58.0	robots which appear and behave like humans, are being built to help us do everything from
1:03.8	washing the dishes to babysitting the kids. But not everyone feels comfortable with the idea of
1:10.5	inviting a human-like robot into their home.
1:14.4	Neil, how would you feel about living with a robot?
1:17.8	I really don't want to live with a robot. I have enough people in my house.
1:22.4	With advances in AI, robots are becoming smart enough to develop meaningful relationships with humans.
1:30.7	There are reports of people telling their secrets to robot therapists and even falling in
1:36.3	love with their robot friend. In this episode, we'll meet a home companion robot called
1:42.0	Abbey, who's making friends with the elderly residents of Melbourne in Australia.
1:47.3	And as usual, we'll learn some useful new vocabulary, all of which you'll find over on our website,
	...

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