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Robot magician misses out on Magic Circle membership

Illustration of a magician performing a trick with some cards and a top hat and a robotic hand.Getty Images

A humanoid robot magician has been denied permission to join The Magic Circle - the secretive members club for magicians in Britain.

The robot, called 'D4RYL', has been trained to perform magic tricks using advanced engineering and AI.

The robot can perform tricks, including illusions such as moving objects without touching them and reading minds.

Magician David Penn, who owns D4RYL, said he was "disappointed" by the decision.

D4RYL, the humanoid robot, and its owner, David PennDavid Penn

D4RYL, the humanoid robot, and its owner, David Penn

Members of the Magic Circle are highly skilled and perform all over the world.

In order to become a member, magicians have to have been studying or practicing magic for over two years.

They then need to pass a tricky exam, where judges watch hopefuls perform some tricks and decide if they are up to scratch.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Penn explained: "He's on stage, he's performing as a magician, he's moving people emotionally, he's amazing them with magic.

"When he leaves the stage, he's getting standing ovations," he added.

However, when he applied for D4RYL to join the Magic Circle, the organisation rejected the application, arguing that magicians must appeal to our emotions.

Marvin Berglas, the President of the Magic Circle explained that D4RYL was "absolutely extraordinary" but that he didn't quite have the skills that human magicians have.

However, there could be hope for D4RYL to join the Magic Circle in the future.

"One day I'm sure we will have robots as members," Mr Berglas added.