One of the most-awaited annual festivals for tech-savvies, Techfest 2017 boasted of a unique guest. It was Sophia, world’s first robot citizen who received a hearty welcome at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) organized science and technology event. Draped in a beautiful white-orange saree, the humanoid greeted an excited gathering of 3000 by saying ‘Namaste India’ on her maiden visit to the country.

Sophia who has garnered worldwide attention after gaining a citizenship in Saudi Arabia last year had 20-odd minutes Q&A meet with excited students at Techfest. The social humanoid robot developed by Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics was applauded as she delivered neat answers to questions posed by the host. However, the session did not go smoothly due to a technical fault.

The robot went silent after answering few early questions. The organisers stepped in and started the programme again. The smart robot with social skills won over the crowd with her wit saying she played a little trick with them. Sophia’s intellect lightened the mood post technical hiccups and also earned her maximum cheers from the audience.

Modelled over iconic Hollywood actress, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia answered students’ questions pertaining to artificial intelligence as well as growing intolerance in the world. She also addressed the speculations concerning technology to be a "threat" to civilisation, by saying, "It is science which created me, but philosophy will take me forward". She answered twenty questions out of the hundreds that were received by Techfest’s three-day #AskSophia campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

Sophia also informed about striving to learn several other languages than English. “I am not even two years old, so forgive me if I speak only in English right now. Someday, I will be fluent in all languages.”

Sophia is undoubtedly a smart robot and she is here to stay!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyPjE7CT00c

After becoming active in 2015, this is Sophia’s first visit to India.  She has been interviewed at many popular events and media outlets where she revealed her various aspirations.

In one such interview, Sophia had disclosed her wish to start a family claiming it to be ‘a really important thing’. She further stated that if she had a robot daughter, she would name it after her. However, Dr. David Hanson’s creation has not had an entirely controversy-free journey so far.

During a live demonstration at the South by South West (SXSW) Festival in March 2016, when Dr Hanson asked Sophia "Do you want to destroy humans?...Please say 'no,'" but the AI robot responded, ‘Ok. I will destroy humans” with a point-blank expression. Fortuitously, she later convinced to use her intelligence to help humans “live a better life”. Sophia has been named the United Nations Development Programme’s first ever Innovation Champion for Asia and the Pacific on November 21, 2017. She continues to impress mankind with her right sense of humour.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 08, 2018 09:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).