If you have access to a pair of novelty googly eyes, stick them on a few devices. It's pretty astounding how quickly that device develops a personality and presence. It's all in our heads, of course. The vacuum cleaner is no more present or intelligent than it was a few seconds before. But add some eyes, and our brains suddenly register it as something more.

Consciously, we can agree it's still just an appliance. But instinctively and emotionally, we have very different dialogues. The instinct is hardwired – living creatures are highly calibrated to recognise other living things. We spot eyes, noses, mouths and their relative placements with great precision, and we become uncomfortable when facial features look wrong. Those are our instincts.