Uncanny valley

Drawing on current research in artificial intelligence and robotics, Uncanny Valley charts the relationship between Claire, a neuroscientist, and Julian, a nonbiological human. As Julian is "born" a few body parts at a time over the course of the play, Claire teaches him how to be as human as possible: mirroring people's speech, engaging in small-talk, playing a musical instrument. Their deepening friendship and Julian's growing "humanity" lead to the revelations of an unhealed sorrow in Claire's personal life and, ultimately, the purpose for which Julian has been created. Uncanny Valley explores the painful divide between creator and creation, the inherent unpredictability of consciousness, and how we are redefining what it means to be human in the twenty-first century.