A.I., trained on 'The Office', Predicts High Fives and Hugs

Our inability to read other people has led to some epic high five fails and missed kisses. Even after a lifetime of experience, human interactions are hard to predict. But researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory think they can help: With a new deep-learning algorithm that can predict when two people will hug, kiss, shake hands, or high five, they've taken a big step toward a future blessedly devoid of those awkward moments. They're hoping their new algorithm -- trained on 600 hours of YouTube videos and TV shows like The Office, Scrubs, Big Bang Theory, and Desperate Housewives -- can be used to program less socially awkward robots and develop Google Glass-style headsets to suggest actions for us before we even have the chance to miss. In the future they're imagining, you'll never again mess up a chance to air high-five with your co-worker.