Before it is possible to have an intelligent robot, it will be possible to have an intelligent chat companion on the other side of all our screens.

I can see mandatory AI-driven all-emergencies sensors in rental accommodation, just as smoke alarms became mandatory in rental accommodation over my life. Would've saved my grandmother some embarrassment in old age when she fell and couldn't get up, had to stay on the floor until the carer arrived the following morning.

But a robot companion? That's as likely as governments tackling prostate cancer by mandating all men use prostate massage equipment.