Sophia – Social Humanoid Robot by Hanson Robotics

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Sophia (Hanson Robotics)

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Description

Summary:

- Developer: Hanson Robotics, Hong Kong.

- Inventor: David Hanson.

- Debut: Activated February 14, 2016; first public appearance at SXSW 2016.

- Design: Female‑presenting humanoid with realistic facial expressions.

- Core Features:

- Mimics over 60 facial expressions.

- Conversational AI for interviews and public speaking.

- Telepresence and research platform for human‑robot interaction.

- Milestones:

- Saudi Arabian citizenship (2017).

- UNDP Innovation Ambassador.

- Appearances on The Tonight Show, Good Morning Britain, and global conferences.

- NFT artwork auctioned in 2021.

Editorial:

Sophia is less about industrial labor and more about symbolism and social interaction. She embodies the public imagination of AI, sparking debates about robot rights, ethics, and the future of human‑robot relationships. While critics argue Sophia is more of a media spectacle than a technical breakthrough, her role as a cultural icon cannot be overstated.

Specifications:

| Feature | Details |

|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|

| Height | ~1.7 m (human‑scale) |

| Facial Expressions | 60+ mimicked expressions |

| AI | Natural language processing + facial recognition |

| Citizenship | Saudi Arabia (2017) |

| Role | UNDP Innovation Ambassador |

| Applications | Research, media, education, social interaction |

Image: Wikipedia

Company Source:

- Sophia – Hanson Robotics Official Page