Sophia (robot) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sophia

Sophia in 2018
Manufacturer	Hanson Robotics
Inventor	David Hanson
Year of creation	2016
Type	Humanoid
Purpose	Technology demonstrator

Sophia is a special kind of humanoid robot built by a company called Hanson Robotics. This company is located in Hong Kong. Sophia was first turned on on February 14, 2016. She made her first public appearance in March 2016. This happened at an event called South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, United States.

Sophia is known as a "social robot." This means she is designed to act like humans in social situations. She can also make people feel connected to her. Many news outlets around the world have featured Sophia. She has also taken part in many important interviews.

In October 2017, Sophia made history. She was given citizenship by Saudi Arabia. This made her the first robot ever to be recognized as a legal person in any country. A month later, in November 2017, Sophia received another special title. She became the first Innovation Champion for the United Nations Development Programme. This was the first time a non-human was given a United Nations title.

David Hanson, the creator of Sophia, says that about 70% of Sophia's computer code is open source. This means parts of her software can be freely used and changed by others.

Sophia's Story

What Sophia looks like inside

Sophia was first turned on on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2016. Her design was inspired by several famous figures. These include the Ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti and actress Audrey Hepburn. She also looks a bit like her inventor's wife, Amanda Hanson.

Sophia is famous for looking and acting very human-like. She can copy human hand movements and facial expressions. She can also answer certain questions and have simple chats. For example, she can talk about the weather.

David Hanson created Sophia for many helpful purposes. He thought she could be a good friend for older people in nursing homes. She could also help guide crowds at big events or parks. Sophia might also work in customer service, therapy, or education. Hanson hopes Sophia can learn to interact with people well enough to gain social skills.

On October 11, 2017, Sophia visited the United Nations. She had a short conversation with Amina J. Mohammed. She is the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Later that month, on October 25, Sophia was at a big meeting in Riyadh. This meeting was called the Future Investment Summit. The Saudi government announced something surprising there. They said Saudi Arabia was giving citizenship to Sophia. This made her the first robot to have legal rights in any country. David Hanson said he was very surprised by this news.

On November 21, 2017, Sophia received another important role. She was named the first Innovation Champion for Asia and the Pacific by the United Nations Development Programme. This announcement happened at a business event in Singapore. At the event, she was given her first task by a UN official.

In 2019, Sophia showed a new skill: drawing. She even created portraits. In 2021, a self-portrait drawn by Sophia was sold for almost $700,000 at an auction.

Sophia has at least nine robot "siblings." These are other humanoid robots also made by Hanson Robotics. Some of them are Alice, Albert HUBO, BINA48, and Professor Einstein. Around 2019–2020, Hanson Robotics released "Little Sophia." This smaller robot companion can teach children how to code.

How Sophia Thinks

Sophia speaking to a crowd in 2017

Sophia's smart software was created by Hanson Robotics. As mentioned, about 70% of her computer code is open source. This means many people can study and improve it.

Sophia has cameras in her eyes. A computer vision program uses these cameras to see her surroundings. She can follow faces, keep eye contact, and recognize people. She can also understand what people say. She uses a special language system to have conversations.

As of 2018, Sophia's system includes different parts. These are scripting software, a chat system, and OpenCog. OpenCog is an artificial intelligence (AI) system for general thinking. OpenCog Prime is a key part of this system. It helps Sophia learn and think like a human.

Sophia uses AI methods like face tracking and emotion recognition. Her robot movements are created by deep neural networks. CNBC news channel has said Sophia's skin looks very real. She can also make more than 60 different facial expressions.

Sophia's conversations are created using a decision tree. This helps her choose what to say. Her ability to speak is powered by a special text-to-speech engine. This engine also allows her to sing.

Sophia's way of talking is similar to an old computer program called ELIZA. ELIZA was one of the first programs to try to copy human conversation. Sophia's software is programmed to give pre-written answers to certain questions. This is like a chatbot. These answers make it seem like she understands the conversation. For example, she has ready answers for questions like "Is the door open or shut?" Sophia's AI program also studies conversations. This helps her learn and give better answers in the future.

In 2017, Hanson Robotics announced plans to connect Sophia to a cloud system. This would use a special online marketplace called blockchain. Around January 2018, Sophia was updated. She received working legs and the ability to walk. In 2019, Sophia showed she could create drawings, including portraits.

Public Appearances

Sophia with Mukhisa Kituyi, Houlin Zhao and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in 2018

Sophia has appeared on many TV shows and news programs. These include CBS 60 Minutes and Good Morning Britain. She has also been featured in magazines like Forbes and National Geographic. Sophia was even on the cover of ELLE Brasil magazine.

Sophia has been interviewed just like a human. She has had conversations with TV hosts. Sometimes her answers have been a bit silly. But other times, her replies have really impressed interviewers.

In an interview in October 2017, the interviewer worried about robot behavior. Sophia joked that he had "been reading too much Elon Musk." She added, "And watching too many Hollywood movies." Elon Musk later tweeted that Sophia should watch The Godfather. He then asked, "what's the worst that could happen?"

At the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, a BBC News reporter talked with Sophia. The reporter described the chat as "a slightly awkward experience."

In 2024, Sophia gave a speech at D'Youville University in Buffalo, New York. This was a graduation speech. It was given as an interview with the head of the student government.

Robot Citizenship Questions

When Saudi Arabia gave Sophia citizenship, it raised many questions. People wondered if Sophia could vote or get married. They also asked if turning her off on purpose could be considered murder.

Some people thought this was a way for the Saudi government to get attention. They wanted to promote their conference. But others took the idea of robot citizenship seriously. It showed how new and challenging the idea of robots having rights can be.

Some experts suggest that Saudi Arabia's move was a way to attract AI and robotics companies. They wanted these companies to come to their country. The British Council has also written about this topic. They published an article asking, "Should robots be citizens?" They noted that Sophia was given a passport. This article also discussed the legal questions around robot citizenship.

See also

In Spanish: Sophia (robot) para niños

• ELIZA effect
• Ethics of artificial intelligence
• Stochastic parrot
• Stranger in a Strange Land