SoftBank Pepper by SoftBank Robotics SoftBank Robotics
Available Now Upper-Body Humanoid

SoftBank Pepper

by SoftBank Robotics · June 2015

SoftBank Pepper is the world's first social robot designed to recognize human emotions and adapt its behavior accordingly. Deployed in SoftBank stores, hospitals, airports, and hotels globally, Pepper has become the leading commercial social robot for customer engagement and assistance.

SL 6: Interactive Recognizes faces, understands speech, and holds basic conversations. Socially aware
Use cases: Companionship
$25,000 USD

Capabilities

Speech Conversation Emotion Recognition Face Recognition Built-in AI Autonomous Navigation Wheeled Mobility

Specifications

Physical

Height 120 cm
Weight 28 kg

Performance

Degrees of Freedom 20 DoF
Speed 3 km/h

Power & Battery

Battery ~12 hours

Sensing & Perception

Sensors 2 HD cameras, 4 mics, 3D depth sensor, touch sensors, bumpers

Computing & AI

Processor Intel Atom
Display 10.1" touch tablet (chest)
Operating System NAOqi OS (Linux-based)

Connectivity

Languages 15+
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet

Safety & Environment

Operating Environment Retail, hospitality, healthcare, education

Control

Control Methods Voice, tablet, Choreographe SDK, Python/C++

Pricing and Availability

$25,000 USD Available Now

This robot is currently available for purchase from the manufacturer or authorized retailers.

Price last verified: March 2026

AI, Data & Privacy

Mixed - some data on-device, some in cloud

This robot uses a hybrid approach where some data is processed locally on the device and some is sent to cloud servers. The level of EU data protection depends on what data stays local versus what is transmitted. Sensitive data like camera feeds may be processed on-device while usage analytics go to the cloud. Review the manufacturer's privacy policy for specifics on what data goes where.

AI Brain
NAOqi OS with emotion engine and NLP
Your Data Goes To
Hybrid
GDPR
Compliant
You Can Configure
Full SDK

How to keep it private

Works offline
Offline

Core robotics functions (movement, touch response, basic speech, autonomous navigation) run on-device via NAOqi OS on Intel Atom processor. Advanced NLP and cloud-based conversation features are unavailable offline. Autonomous Life mode can be disabled via SSH for full local control.

Available privacy controls

Autonomous Life toggle

Disable Autonomous Life mode via SSH or Choreographe to stop proactive sensing and engagement behaviors

Diagnostic data opt-out

Diagnostic reporting can be disabled to prevent usage statistics and interaction data from being sent to SoftBank servers

Network disconnection

Disconnect from Wi-Fi or Ethernet to operate fully offline with on-device capabilities only

GDPR data controls

GDPR-compliant data handling with anonymized logs stored only with explicit user consent

Privacy tip

Disconnect Pepper from the internet for maximum privacy, as core robotics functions work offline via NAOqi OS. Disable Autonomous Life mode to prevent proactive camera and microphone use. Change the default root SSH password immediately, as security researchers found Pepper ships with well-known default credentials. Disable diagnostic reporting in settings. Note that Aldebaran was acquired by Maxvision Technology Corp. in 2025, which may affect future data handling policies.

What this means for EU residents
Data location Hybrid
EU processing Available
GDPR Compliant

GDPR-compliant data handling with anonymized logs stored only with user consent. NAOqi OS runs on-device for core functions. Cloud connectivity for advanced NLP features. Note: Aldebaran (parent company) filed bankruptcy in February 2025 and was acquired by Maxvision Technology Corp. in July 2025.

Based on

Pepper Security Case Study (Alias Robotics) (2026-03-29)
What the AI can do 7 capabilities
emotion-recognitionface-recognitionnatural-language-processingmulti-language-supporttouch-interactionautonomous-navigationgesture-recognition
External AI connections Allowed

This robot can connect to external AI services. This means it may send data to third-party servers for processing.

chatgpt
Security features 2 features
  • gdpr-anonymized-logs
  • opt-in-data-collection
Configurability details Full SDK

Pepper SDK for Android (QiSDK), Choreographe visual programming, Python, C++, Java, JavaScript SDKs, and ROS interface. 10.1-inch touch tablet for custom app deployment. ChatGPT integration demonstrated for enhanced conversation.

Research notice

The information above is compiled from manufacturer documentation, published privacy policies, independent security research, and community findings as of the dates listed in our sources. AI capabilities, privacy features, and data handling practices may change with firmware updates or policy revisions. We make every effort to be accurate, but errors are possible. Always do your own research before purchasing. Check the manufacturer's latest privacy policy and terms of service directly for the most current information.

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Sources

All information on this page is based on the following sources. Links open in a new tab.

  1. SoftBank Robotics Pepper Page - accessed 2026-03-01
  2. SoftBank Robotics Official Website - accessed 2026-03-01
  3. Pepper SDK for Android (QiSDK) - accessed 2026-03-29
  4. Pepper Security Case Study (Alias Robotics) - accessed 2026-03-29
  5. Pepper ChatGPT Integration - accessed 2026-03-29