How Close Are Robots to Being Human? | Live Lectures + Standup Comedy
computer scientist.
About this Event
HAL 9000. The Terminator. C-3PO. WALL-E.
For decades, movies have been telling us what robots are. But how much of it is actually science and how much is fiction?
Dr. Steve Engels is a computer scientist at the University of Toronto who has spent his career studying the gap between robots on screen and the AI systems we actually build. It's weirder, more fascinating, and closer to your daily life than you'd expect.
On September 18th, he's bringing that to Laugh & Learn.
Here's how the night works:
First → stand-up comedy to warm up the room
Then → Steve takes over
No jargon. No scary predictions. No computer science background required - just curiosity and a healthy skepticism about robot overlords.
What you'll actually learn:
- How robots actually see, hear, and understand the world around them
- The three core ingredients of robotic intelligence - perception, reasoning, and action
- Why self-driving cars, facial recognition, and AI assistants work the way they do
- How close robots actually are to thinking and acting like humans
This is for you if:
- You've ever watched a sci-fi movie and wondered what's actually possible
- You're curious about AI, robotics, or the future of technology
- You want a night that's genuinely mind-bending AND funny
Details:
📍 Catacombs Cabaret (Rear Entrance), 474 Queen St W, Toronto
📅 Friday, September 18th
🕖 Doors 6:30 PM | Show 7 PM
⚠️ Small intimate venue. We regularly sell out. Once seats are gone, that's it.
Book your spot before it fills up.
https://youtube.com/shorts/h8fgTDE18xw?si=mdcm0AW49IZp9ucb
https://youtube.com/shorts/HA-OhuleCqI?si=nQAM2-AVOebeyqmI
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 27.96 to CAD 43.93
