LONDON -- Meet Sally, an incredibly sinister housekeeper and nanny who's actually a robot. Sally will cook your supper, lead your children off to bed, and probably go haywire and destroy you in the night.
She's the latest product for Persona Synthetics, a company offering affordable cyborgs for home use.
Well, not really. She's actually part of a promo clip for a new Channel 4 TV show, Humans, which is a Black Mirror-esque drama "set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for a busy family is a synth -- an advanced robotic servant."
But she's been freaking a lot of people out.
Just saw the advert for Persona synthetics, fell for it and had a mini panic attack. Clever channel 4, clever. pic.twitter.com/Ln5H3qXQHG— Hayley Morris (@Hayleymorris3) May 9, 2015
The adverts have been airing over the weekend, and a lot of people are genuinely worried about this bold new future.
Seriously, what is this advert!? Is the future happening right now!!?? #PersonaSynthetics https://t.co/A4ZbBcLCsA Im scared!! #Skynet— Swifty2606 / Rich (@swifty2606) May 8, 2015
I've just seen an advert for 'persona synthetics' IS THIS REAL LIFE?!!!!!— Stephanie (@stephd_21) May 8, 2015
Anyone seen the creepy persona synthetics ad on C4 ? Scared the hell out of me !!— Umar Siddiqui (@umarksiddiqui) May 10, 2015
Others eventually cottoned on.
So convinced and freaked out at the advert for new @Channel4 series #Humans that I actually Googled the Web page http://t.co/TTWWimjGo2— Liz (@LizLonsdale_) May 9, 2015
thank you @Channel4 for making me think that the robots are finally rising up against us.. #personasynthetics — Cait Allan (@caitroseallan) May 11, 2015
Did anyone else see the persona synthetics advert and think that they were actually selling human robots— Nadine Cleavin (@nadinecleavin) May 11, 2015
Anyone else just googled persona synthetics?— ❁Emm❁ (@emilygibsonn_x) May 9, 2015
Genuinely thought #PersonaSynthetics advert on @Channel4 was real. Went onto the website & found out it was a new drama! CLEVER CH4! #Humans— Simon Wegrzyn (@simonwegrzyn) May 9, 2015
If you want your own robot helper and companion, they start at £20,000.