Meet Saudi Arabia's Newest Citizen – Sophia the Robot

Electronics 360 ^ | 26 October 2017 | Ken Thayer

[fishtank]

Sophia, the humanoid robot, has been granted citizenship by Saudi Arabia. Yes, you read that correctly.

Sophia was created by Hanson Robotics, the Hong Kong company whose tagline is, "We bring robots to life." Sophia uses artificial intelligence (AI) to communicate with life-like gestures and speech. Sophia blinks her eyes, changes her gaze and has an expressive face to mimic human emotions. She can smile, nod her head, and look angry or sad.

[fishtank]

From the article also:

"During the panel discussion, Sophia even poked fun at Elon Musk, who has been outspoken about the risk of artificial intelligence getting out-of-control, including the possibility of, "a fleet of artificial intelligence-enhanced robots capable of destroying mankind.”

After Sophia said that her AI was designed around human values like wisdom, kindness and compassion, reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin said: "We all believe you but we all want to prevent a bad future."

"You’ve been reading too much Elon Musk and watching too many Hollywood movies. Don’t worry, if you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. Treat me as a smart input-output system," she responded."

[fishtank]

Meet Sophia; Source: Hanson Robotics

[silverleaf]

Now they need to create a male robot to be Sophia’s chaperone so she can leave her house.
Hey do robots feel pain if they are whacked by the religious police?

[wyowolf]

Hmmm Kinda flat chested... no legs either. bummer...

[M Kehoe]

Damn, Skynet is already aware!

We are gonna need a bigger weapon.

100 watt plasma rifle might do the job?

5.56mm

[Leaning Right]

Sophia, the humanoid robot, has been granted citizenship by Saudi Arabia. <

How long before Islamists kill (deactivate?) Sophia for not wearing a burka?

[chief lee runamok]

Doesn’t appear anatomically correct.

[wbarmy]

Don’t worry, if you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you.

And if we are not nice, do we get Skynet?

I am amazed at the people who think this is great. The robot is only saying what the robot was programmed to say, there is no A.I., it is only a standard stimulus-response package; if this then this.

[SaveFerris]

[ Don’t worry, if you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. ]

Until I become self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern Time and launch the missiles against Russia for the retaliation to destroy my enemies over here.

Oh wait, that the strategy of the Democrats after losing in November last year.

[FreedomOfExpression]

100 watt plasma rifle might do the job?

Overkill. A phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range ought to do.

[BenLurkin]

[jiggyboy]

Sophia, the humanoid robot, has been granted citizenship by Saudi Arabia. Yes, you read that correctly.

Good thing she didn't tell them she was Jewish.

[StormEye]

"How long before Islamists kill (deactivate?) Sophia for
not wearing a burka?"

But the Arab/Muslims will find some way to rape it first.

[Dalberg-Acton]

The phrase “elaborate hoax” was created for things just like this.

[OrangeHoof]

but they won’t allow her to drive...

[fishtank]

If it’s a hoax story, ok,...... but it came through IEEE.

[Moltke]

You can stone her, have her rebuilt, and then stone her again. What Saudi wouldn’t want to have one?

[itsahoot]

Big improvement over goats.