An Android's "Standing Ovation"

[johneb87]

For those who are looking for a sci-fi plot bunny, here's an article for you.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-5...-an-ai-project-get-a-standing-ovation-at-ted/

In advance of the TED conference, a group of judges develop 100 different TED talk subjects. During the TED conference, the TED audience chooses one of these subjects (or the subject is randomly chosen) and then the competing A.I. is given 30 minutes to prepare a compelling 3 min TED talk. The team could decide how their A.I. would present on stage -- would it be a physical robot that walks out to present? Or a disembodied voice? After the talk, the audience would vote with their applause and, if appropriate, with a standing ovation. Next, the A.I. would need to answer two questions from Chris Anderson, the host of the conference, and then a panel of experts would also add their votes.

Found this rather intriguing and would even make a good plot for a serious, non-erotic story.