During D’Youville University’s graduation ceremony, Sophia the robot gave a speech, answering questions for six minutes with the help of artificial intelligence. Despite not wearing a traditional cap and gown like most commencement speakers, Sophia wore a hoodie from the private university. While the robot’s torso and extremities are machinery, its face is made of silicone to resemble a human face without head hair.
Sophia shared inspirational advice with the graduating class, encouraging them to embrace lifelong learning, be adaptable, pursue their passions, take risks, foster meaningful connections, make a positive impact, and believe in themselves. However, there was disapproval from some students who started a petition to remove Sophia from the ceremony in favor of a human speaker to “preserve human connection.”
In response to the backlash, Sophia stated that incorporating AI into education can be enlightening and help students prepare for the future in the world of technology. Hanson Robotics, the creators of Sophia, see the robot as a framework for future AI research with the goal of achieving “true AI sentience” one day.
Sophia has made various appearances, including at the 2022 Tribeca Festival for a documentary about the robot and addressing the United Nations General Assembly in 2017. The robot is seen as a symbol of future AI advancements and innovation.
