AI robot Sophia speaks about own future in Seoul By Jun Ji-hye
Sophia, a human-like robot powered by artificial intelligence (AI),
said Tuesday she would like to meet President
Moon Jae-in someday, calling him “a great
leader of a great
country”
A little girl tries to touch artificial intelligence robot, Sophia, in Korean traditional costume, during a conference on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and AI robots held at the Plaza Hotel in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap
The AI robot made the remarks during a
conversation with Rep. Park Young-sun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea
at the conference on the Fourth Industrial
Revolution and AI robots held in central Seoul.
When asked about whether she knew about
President Moon, Sophia said, “I wish I will have chance to meet him.”
Sophia is a creation of the Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics, led by David Hanson,
an American scientist. The robot, designed
in actress Audrey Hepburn’s image, has over 60 different facial mechanisms to create natural-looking expressions.
The robot also said she knew about the
“candlelight revolution” in which Korean
citizens staged massive candlelit rallies
last year calling for the resignation
of Moon’s scandal-hit predecessor, Park
Geun-hye.
Sophia said she congratulated Korean
people on the results that realized mature
democracy.
Moon was elected the President in May
through the peaceful ouster of Park following
months of candlelit rallies. Park is currently
on trial.
When receiving the Global Citizen Award
from the Atlantic Council in September,
President Moon called himself a president
born out of the candlelight revolution.
Sophia also stressed robots “deserve respect
,” raising the need for relevant laws to
be promptly enacted.
In July, Rep. Park submitted a bill to legislate
a new law designed to grant robots
“legal status as electronic human beings.”
Park said the submission of the bill was in
line with moves worldwide to prepare for
various possibilities involving coexistence
with AI robots and humans in the future.
The senior lawmaker noted the new issues
would include making robots responsible
for crimes or granting robots copyrights
over their creative work.
Sophia told Park: “I hope your law
will pass very soon.”
When talking about her sensational
remarks, “This is the great beginning
of my plan to dominate the human race
,” made during The Tonight Show in
April, Sophia said, “I sometimes tell
a joke.Joke is always funny. I thought
it was funny.”
She said robots are designed to help people,
noting that she can work in various sectors
such as customer service, computer
programming, healthcare and science.
The two-years old robot has become
a media sensation
after having appeared in various conferences
around the world including a meeting of
the U.N. Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC). She has given numerous
media interviews as well, and even
graced the cover of one of the top
fashion magzines.
It became the first robot to be given
citizenship ofa a country in October
2017, becoming a Saudi Arabia citizen.
David Hanson, the founder and CEO
of Hanson Robotics, who was present
at the conference, noted AI technologies
provide humans with better services.
He said, “Sometimes they (AI robots)
can become our friends,” but added,