The world’s first-ever Robot citizen Sophia has surprised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina saying how much she knows about Bangladesh.
The humanoid robot met her on Wednesday at the Digital World 2017, at the Banganandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka, an exposition to show Bangladesh’s progress in the thriving information technology sector.
Soon after the exposition was inaugurated, Sophia, wearing a yellow-white Jamdani top-skirt outfit, came onto the stage and had a conservation with PM Hasina, also wearing a yellow saree, in English
Greeting her, the Prime Minister said, “Hello Sophia, how are you?”
In reply, Sophia said, “Hello, Honourable Prime Minister, I feel really proud. It is great to meet you today.”
The Prime Minister asked the humanoid robot how she was able to recognise her.
“Well, I have read and learned about you. I also know that you are the daughter of the great leader and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. You are also called the Mother of Humanity and the one who envisioned Digital Bangladesh.”
“And also, your granddaughter has the same name as mine – Sophia.”
Prime Minister Hasina then went to confirm it to the guests at the exposition that her son, ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy, had a daughter named Sophia.
Addressing Sophia, she said, “Well, you know a lot about me and my vision, but what do you know about Digital Bangladesh?”
She then kept on going revealing a lot about the PM, her government’s digital policy and Bangladesh in over a three-minute conversation with the prime minister with using her mechanised brain.
The humanoid robot – height: 5 feet and 4 inches – is manufactured by Hong Kong’s Hanson Robotics. She can answer questions in English.
She is also able to recognise voice and face through her artificial intelligence. Even she can enhance her knowledge using various data.
Saudi Arabia granted her citizenship, the first of its kind in the world, at a global investment event in Riyadh in October of this year.
The humanoid robot arrived in Dhaka at the midnight of Monday to attend the four-day Digital World now being held at BICC.
Sophia, who resembles Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn, had interacted with visitors at the expo from 2:30pm to 4:30pm on Wednesday.
During the session ‘Techtalk with Sophia’, she took questions from visitors at the Hall of Fame inside the BICC.
Sophia's creator, Dr David Hanson, also delivered a speech at the end of the session.
Sophia was scheduled to leave Dhaka for Hong Kong later on the day.
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