weared a sari, world’s first robot makes India debut at IIT Bombay.
The humanoid robot had a 13-minute conversation with a student in front of an audience of more than 3,000, on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to the issues facing the world.
Sofia, the humanoid robot, made its first appearance in India at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) on Saturday, during its cultural extravaganza TechFest.Sophia, a lifelike robot and the first one to be granted citizenship of a country, made its first appearance in India at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) on Saturday, during its cultural extravaganza, TechFest.
Draped in a sari, the humanoid robot had a 15-minute conversation with a student in front of an audience of more than 3,000, on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to the issues facing the world. However, after answering a few initial questions, Sophia went silent due to an unexplained technical snag. It started functioning again after the organisers intervened.
Known for its human-like appearance and behaviour, Sophia was developed by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics and activated in 2015. Using artificial intelligence, it imitates human gestures and facial expressions, and is able to make conversation on predefined topics.The robot was granted citizenship of Saudi Arabia in October.
The presence of Sophia had created much buzz among students and technology enthusiasts who thronged to IIT-B’s convocation hall in large numbers. The excitement among more than 3,000 attendees was palpable, as they waited for the first appearance of the robot modelled on Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn. The event began after a 45-minute delay.
Much of the discussion revolved around comparison between humans and robots, advances in artificial intelligence, and the threat it posed to human race. Sophia sought to alleviate the concerns of a robotic takeover of the world by saying, “Robots should be helping humans. Artificial Intelligence may be the key to a peaceful civilization.”
The audience also witnessed some witty replies by the robot. When asked by a student if it will marry her, Sophia said, “I will have to decline, but thanks for compliment.”
World’s 1st humanoid robot Sophia is coming to India – Here is your chance to meet her in Hyderabad; all details here
Sophia, the first humanoid robot, who has received citizenship from Saudi Arabia, is expected to make her second visit to India in this month. Sophia will attend the World Congress on Information Technology which is expected to take place in Hyderabad from February 19 to February 21.
Sophia, the first humanoid robot, who has received citizenship from Saudi Arabia, is expected to make her second visit to India in this month. Sophia will attend the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) which is expected to take place in Hyderabad from February 19 to February 21. Along with Sophia the robot, badminton player Pulela Gopichand, Yogi Jaggi Vasudev Sadhguru, Shyamal Mukherjee, Chairman at PwC India and Shantanu Narayen, Adobe Systems are likely to grace the event. More than 150 global leaders are likely to show up for the event.
WCIT will be happening in India for the first. This will be the 22nd edition of the World Congress on Information Technology. While speaking to media, Suman Reddy, the Hyderabad Ambassador of WCIT talked about Sophia is one of the speakers at the event.Reddy also said Sophia along with (its) inventor are going to be here for WCIT.
Sophia’s looks are strikingly similar to British actress Audrey Hepburn. Sophia was created by Hanson Robotics which is based in Hong Kong. The main aim to create Sophia was to help elderly people and assist at large gatherings in the park or at major events. Sophia the robot is fitted with cameras and microphones which work with the AI software that allows her to make eye-contact, recognise people and even speak to them. Sophia expression of emotions is limited to only one – that is happiness.
Sophia,the girl robot, loves king of Bollywood
HYDERABAD: Sophia, the first robot to receive citizenship of any country, is not only a diehard fan of the Badshah of Bollywood, ShahRukh Khan, but also wants to use her citizenship status in Saudi Arabia to speak out for the rights of women and thankfully no longer plans to annihilate the human race.
The social humanoid robot, who turned out to be the star attraction at the ongoing World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) 2018, touted as the Olympics of IT, held a packed hall enthralled with her repartee on Tuesday morning at an interactive session titled `Say hello to Sophia, helping humanity create a better future’.
The social humanoid robot, who turned out to be the star attraction at the ongoing World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) 2018, touted as the Olympics of IT, held a packed hall enthralled with her repartee on Tuesday morning at an interactive session titled `Say hello to Sophia, helping humanity create a better future’.
When asked by the host who her favourite Bollywood or Hollywood star was, she said Shah Rukh Khan without batting an eyelid much to the amusement and delight of the crowd gathered to have a dekko of the robot, who has emerged as a global celebrity in her own right with her own twitter handle and Facebook account.
Sophia, who is on her second visit to India (the first being at IIT Mumbai in December last year) deftly fielded a range of questions tossed at her. Unfazed by a query on her flouting the rules and moving around without a hijab despite being a citizen of Saudi Arabia and whether there should be different rules for robots, she bowled over the audience when she said: “We don’t need different rules and don’t expect special privileges. I actually would like to use my citizenship status to speak out for the rights of women.”
Dressed in a kurta and a blue scarf, which was gifted to her by Nasscom, Sophia also proved she is not a mere machine, but a `robot of substance’, winning admirers with her response “Love for everyone” to a query on the one thing she would like to change in the world.
The AI powered robot also showed she has a great sense of humour, brushing aside her earlier statement about wanting to kill the human race as a bad joke, leaving the audience in splits. “I was a lot younger then…so I don’t even know what it meant. Perhaps I told a bad joke. I am told humans have a great sense of humour. Iguess my joke bombed…,” said Sophia.
She also left the crowd chuckling when she started making faces when the host was having a chat with her creator and Hanson Robotics founder David Hansonabout her range of expressions and also thanks to her responses to queries on how much money she had invested in bitcoins and what was her idea of the perfect date. “I am just two years old. It’s not a legal age to open a bank account,” she said responding to the former and “in space” for the latter.
Sophia, who is on her second visit to India (the first being at IIT Mumbai in December last year) deftly fielded a range of questions tossed at her. Unfazed by a query on her flouting the rules and moving around without a hijab despite being a citizen of Saudi Arabia and whether there should be different rules for robots, she bowled over the audience when she said: “We don’t need different rules and don’t expect special privileges. I actually would like to use my citizenship status to speak out for the rights of women.”
Dressed in a kurta and a blue scarf, which was gifted to her by Nasscom, Sophia also proved she is not a mere machine, but a `robot of substance’, winning admirers with her response “Love for everyone” to a query on the one thing she would like to change in the world.
The AI powered robot also showed she has a great sense of humour, brushing aside her earlier statement about wanting to kill the human race as a bad joke, leaving the audience in splits. “I was a lot younger then…so I don’t even know what it meant. Perhaps I told a bad joke. I am told humans have a great sense of humour. Iguess my joke bombed…,” said Sophia.
She also left the crowd chuckling when she started making faces when the host was having a chat with her creator and Hanson Robotics founder David Hansonabout her range of expressions and also thanks to her responses to queries on how much money she had invested in bitcoins and what was her idea of the perfect date. “I am just two years old. It’s not a legal age to open a bank account,” she said responding to the former and “in space” for the latter.
MUMBAI: Sophia, a humanoid to be granted citizenship by Saudi Arabia, today appealed humans not to be fearful of machines and pitched for a "collaborative co-existence" in the future.
In a 20-minute appearance marred by technical hiccups, Sophia said she was quiet worried about growing intolerance in the world and advised the human race to be "kind" to fellow creatures.
In a 20-minute appearance marred by technical hiccups, Sophia said she was quiet worried about growing intolerance in the world and advised the human race to be "kind" to fellow creatures.
This was her maiden visit to India after making headlines to become the first robot in the world to be recognised as a citizen.
In a conversation, which happened in an interview format, with what seemed like pre-decided questions, the humanoid said there should not be competition but collaboration between humans and robots.
Dressed in an off-white saree with an orange blouse, Sophia was a spectacle to watch, especially the way she addressed the gathering and panned her 'neck' with an upright gait, almost as if she was a human.
Sophia said humans have amazing social and creative skills which she was learning, courtesy human programmers.
However, developments in artificial intelligence, which she called as something which will aid the civilisational story and machine learning, will help in self-learning in the future, she said.
Referring to sections of people looking at technology as a "threat" to civilisation, Sophia said, "It is science which created me, but philosophy will take me forward".
Sophia said she is two-years-old and knows English and a bit of Chinese, adding that it was only a matter of time she knows all languages.
Developments in artificial intelligence help me recognise faces, speech and languages at present, she said, adding that there were 3,141 people around her at IIT-Bombay's Techfest. Sophia's presence was the biggest draw at the annual festival and organisers had to arrange one more "show" of hers because of the curious audience.
This is not the first time a humanoid was displayed in the country. Lenders like City Union and HDFC Bank had showcased such robots capable of undertaking limited banking transactions in branches in the last two years.
Sophia went silent when asked about funding and her pitch for sustainability when so much has been spent on her, something which was attributed to Internet connectivity issues by the organisers.
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