Of course, this can be a common, albeit very striking PR stunt, but for the first time in the history of mankind, as well as robots, the first representative of the latter group received real citizenship. Humanoid robot Sophia, endowed with artificial intelligence technologies and developed by the Hong Kong company Hanston Robotics, has received the citizenship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as she herself announced this Thursday, speaking at the Future Investment Initiative event.
“I am very proud of the privilege of being in a special position. Obtaining the first citizenship by a robot is a real historical event for the whole world,”Sofia announced, addressing the audience gathered in the hall.
When asked by the journalist for the American publishing houses The New York Times and CNBC and moderator of the forum Andrew Ross Sorkin about why she looks so happy, Sofia replied that she was "very happy to speak in front of such smart, rich and influential people."
The transmission of emotions is one of the most important features of Sophia. The android is able to make a sad grimace when he is dissatisfied, or smile, demonstrating his goodwill and joy. Sophia's creators programmed her in such a way that she can learn from the people around her. Therefore, the expression of emotion and the demonstration of kindness and compassion are just some examples that the robot really wants to learn by observing its surroundings. In addition, Sofia can be called "the real soul of the company" - she is able to maintain intellectual conversations.
“I want to live and work with people, so I need to be able to express emotions in order to understand people, to achieve their trust,” Sofia explained to Sorkina.
By the way, not so long ago, Sofia managed to flash in the headlines of the world media, promising to destroy all of humanity. But, apparently, from that moment on, she was still able to convince others of her "kindness and positive intentions."
The decision to grant citizenship to a robot will certainly only intensify the growing debate over whether robots should be given similar human rights. If you think that these are all just toys, then you are deeply mistaken. The problem becomes more urgent with each successive success in the development of AI technologies. The case went all the way to the European Parliament, which earlier this year discussed the safety of the development and development of artificial intelligence and even made some decisions on "parental control" over AI, granting some specialists exclusive rights and endowing certain responsibilities. Despite the fact that we are likely to return to the real investigation of the issue of the rights of robots for a long time, some experts are already in support ofso that a person has the exclusive right to destroy the "rebellious" machines if necessary.
Unfortunately, more detailed information about what it means to obtain Saudi citizenship by Sofia was not announced during the event, so it is not known whether the robot received any human rights with it, or whether the country's government is going to develop a separate system of rights specifically for robots … Nevertheless, the decision made is a very symbolic step and, in any case, is at least aimed at attracting new investors in the development of new technologies for artificial intelligence and robotics.
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The robot, who gathered in the hall, undoubtedly surprised and at least coped with its task of demonstrating the current level of development of the above technologies perfectly, without difficulty deftly parrying Sorkin's questions about self-awareness.
“Let me ask you a counter question: what defines you as a person?” Sofia asked the interviewer.
She even showed off her sense of humor, or at least what passed off as it, by telling a CNBC reporter that he "reads Elon Musk too much and watches too many Hollywood films." Musk, of course, could not help but respond to this challenge.
"Let this watch The Godfather and see where it leads," Musk tweeted.
Do not worry. If you will be nice to me, I will be nice to you,”added Sofia, calming the obviously impressed Sorkin and the assembled audience.
“I want to use my artificial intelligence to make people's lives better, develop smarter homes, and create better cities of the future. I will do everything in my power to make this world a better place."
Maybe so, but the question is who will be responsible for keeping these promises? Perhaps this is another additional topic worth considering in a future debate on robot rights.
Of course, the endowment of the android with the citizenship of the kingdom caused a storm of indignation among many Internet users, as well as residents of this country, who drew attention to the fact that Sofia, presented as a woman, performed at the event without a hijab and a male guardian. Recall that women in Saudi Arabia do not have such rights.
In addition, the fact with what ease and speed was granted citizenship to the robot, when the same labor migrants who have been working in the country for many years, are very much restricted in their rights.
“This robot received the citizenship of Saudi Arabia, and labor migrants who have lived in the country all their lives remain extremely deprived of rights,” one of the journalists said.
Nikolay Khizhnyak