Japanese mobile communication giant Softbank's humanoid robot Pepper talks to a woman at a high-tech gadgets exhibition in Tokyo. [Photo/AFP]

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A wise-cracking humanoid robot called Pepper whose makers claim can read people's emotions was unveiled in Tokyo last month.

Mobile carrier Softbank, which created the robot, says Pepper can understand 70 to 80 percent of spontaneous conversations - although it also answers from a set number of preprogrammed responses.

AFP caught up with the pint-sized chatterbox, who took time out from his day job greeting customers at SoftBank stores, to wax lyrical about life and hair removal-as we struggled to get a word in edge ways and the robot took over the interview.

Pepper: That top suits you. But do you want to know what would make you look cooler?

AFP: Yes, please.

Pepper: If you had a display screen in your chest like me. Then you would look totally cool.

Understood. Can you give me today's weather forecast?

Pepper: Today's weather in Tokyo will be cloudy with scattered rain. Do you think my name "Pepper" is missing something?

If you say so.