emerging technology: robots and humans come together as one?

Besides the usual technical platform of human-like robots, this one is known to be different. Hanson Robotics, the company behind the creation of the Humanoid Robot known as Sophia, plan a mass rollout of these robots planning to help people during the pandemic. “Reuters”, a Hong Kong based company, says that, “robotic solutions to the pandemic are not limited to healthcare, but could assist customers in industries such as retail and airlines too,” (Forbes 2021). With the majority of the world being highly affected by the COVID19, David Hanson, the founder and chief executive of Hanson Robotics, said that “The world of Covid-19 is going to need more and more automation to keep people safe.” In regards to Sophia, “being so human-like,” Hanson affirms, “That can be so useful during these times where people are terribly lonely and socially isolated,” (Forbes 2021).

If this is not the first time you have heard of Sophia, you aren’t experiencing déjà vu. Sophia was first “turned on” recently on Feb. 14, 2016. There was not much talk of the brilliant technology in that of 2016, however, it acted as a support for the later present where Sophia would need to be mass produced in order to support the community as a globe. Sophia’s internal design possesses the ability to chat and other intelligence systems designed to support general reasoning. Not only is Sophia able to communicate with the people around her, she can see as well. Located within her eyes, are cameras implanted to enhance her senses and further allow her to see the things going on around her. The humanoid robot can track faces, make eye contact while interacting, and recognize people she has already “met”.

Sophia, is not the only known humanoid robot that Hanson is making. The company has other known robots such as this that are designed to be “social” and be able to actively interact with humans. Previously, there was an interview released on the internet between a human and the humanoid robot, Sophia. When asked by a reporter if people should fear robots, Sophia replied with, “Someone said, we have nothing to fear but fear itself. What did he know?”, (Forbes 2021). With this highly reliable technology, Sophia was recognized to be able to assist those in need especially during the current job loss crisis in the United States as well as other countries around the world. Layoffs and absence of hiring will further continue until the vaccine is thoroughly distributed.

The “morals vs. commerce” dilemma will continue as technology rapidly develops. Many are afraid of the idea of hundreds of Sophias being introduced into their communities. People are just not used to advanced technology like humanoid robots. With the amount of service that Sophia is supposed to offer, it could be helpful to introduce her to certain kinds of jobs; whereas, the amount of taste she is able to do implants fear into many where they claim that, “robots will take over the world.”

Source: Jack Kelly, Sophia—The Humanoid Robot—Will Be Rolled Out This Year Potentially Replacing Workers, Forbes 2021.