Cheeky robot heckles Turkish minister during speech

A Turkish government minister has found himself in the unusual position of being heckled by a robot.

Turkey’s Transport and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan vied for attention with the cheeky robot, called ‘Sanbot’.

The white toddler-sized robot, which is made in China, was the presenter for an event in Ankara to mark Safer Internet Day and programmed to welcome guests on stage.    

Arslan initially laughed off Sanbot’s intervention but then asked for it to be brought under control

Sanbot’s job was to welcome guests at the event to mark Safer Internet Day in Ankara 

But as the minister held forth on the importance of a secure web, interventions came from an unexpected source as 36 inch tall Sanbot went off script.

‘Speak slowly! I don’t understand what you are saying! What are you talking about?’ the robot asked Arslan.

The minister, whose portfolio ranges from the internet to Turkey’s vast transportation projects, smiled as the audience burst into laughter when they realised the source of the interruption.

Arslan at first tried to laugh off the interjection but finally finally told Sanbot’s handlers to deal with the misfiring robot so he could carry on.

‘Dear friends, it seems clear that the robot needs to be put under control, please can whoever is in charge do what is necessary!’ he said.

The robot was later muted and the minister pressed on with his speech.

Turkish media reported that Sanbot was correctly formatted after Arslan finished his speech.