Stop what you’re doing. There’s a synth out there that needs your help – yes, just the sort of synth that you’ve seen on Channel 4 drama Humans. How do we know? We’ve spoken directly to them via a new messenger bot via Persona Synthetics that’s been set up ahead of series two of the show airing later this year.

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But this isn't a synth you know from series one. Just take a look at them in this ‘product recall’ video from Persona Synthetics (the synth creators in the show), warning “in recent days a small number of Synths have been experiencing some technical difficulties. With this in mind we have decided to initiate a precautionary and entirely voluntary product recall.”

There’s also a dedicated website for the “product safety recall” which offers a live 'support chat' if you’ve got a problem with your synth. Click that and you can chat to a 'synth' on Facebook messenger. And this is where things get weird. Very weird.

At first you’ll be asked a pretty standard question: how out of control your synth is...

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Before you’re asked to select a synth out of the following line-up…

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And then you’ll be speaking to a robot. One that’s smarter than you’d think…

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But then everything changes. The synth comes alive. With emojis.

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The synth then gets perhaps a bit too personal…

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And jokey…

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Maybe a bit too jokey…

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And then, well, then you have to help the synth escape. You’ve got to pick an escape route…

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…and find a passcode. All in 60 seconds.

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Do it right and they’re out. It’s over. You’re a hero.

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Humans returns to Channel 4 later this year

Authors

Thomas LingStaff Writer, BBC Science Focus

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Immediate’s iconic brands reach 21m people every month – that’s more than a third of the UK’s adults – through its world-class magazines, innovative digital products and exciting live eventsImmediate’s iconic brands reach 21m people every month – that’s more than a third of the UK’s adults – through its world-class magazines, innovative digital products and exciting live eventsImmediate’s iconic brands reach 21m people every month – that’s more than a third of the UK’s adults – through its world-class magazines, innovative digital products and exciting live events

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