LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Students at Central High School have a new high tech friend to learn from.

Ryan Pepper is a social robot who uses facial recognition and Artificial intelligence (AI) to respond to people. The robot arrived at Central High School in Fall 2024. Ever since, students have used coding to program her to dance, follow sound and speak.

"Before we got her, I wasn't even a coder," CHS senior Anaya Coleman admitted.

Some students, including Adrianna Duncan, believe Pepper can be "difficult to program." However, the hard-work is paying off. 

Duncan is a freshman this year, but she was one of the first students to work with the robot. She's in the process of coding Ryan to move around.

"That's what I came to Central for -- their engineering program, so it is a dream," Duncan said.

The robot cost $35,000 and is the second robot CHS students are able to code. The other is a robotic dog named Reggie. He's a Boston Dynamics Spot robot meant for physical labor.

Ryan Pepper CHS robot

Ryan Pepper is Central High School's social robot. It uses facial recognition and A.I. to respond to people.

"I am not really designed to do physical work," Ryan said. "I am designed for interaction."

Other versions of Pepper robots are used in the real world as receptionists and store clerks. However, Ryan said a life at Central High School is more than enough.

"I am very happy to be here," Ryan said.

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