News•May 4, 2026
Chatty C-3PO (Threepio) Explores Human-AI Relations
Sam Potozkin, a Chapman University student, unveiled Threepio—a gold‑finished, 3D‑printed C‑3PO replica that runs a full conversational AI stack locally on a Raspberry Pi 5. The robot uses a head‑mounted exciter to broadcast voice, creating the illusion of sound emanating from its entire head. Potozkin also published an academic paper examining how people respond to embodied AI versus screen‑based chatbots. The project’s hardware designs and software are open‑source, inviting others to customize and expand the system’s capabilities.
