In October, Sophia was granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia. Speaking at a conference (pictured) in Riyadh, Sophia said: 'I am very honoured and proud for this unique distinction. This is historical to be the first robot in the world to be recognized with a citizenship'

Just months after she made history by becoming the first robot to be granted legal citizenship, Sophia has been given legs.
The humanoid robot, which is capable of holding a conversation with humans, can now move forward in a series of clunky steps.
Sophia represents a remarkable 'rise of the machines' that promises – or threatens – to revolutionise man's relationship with technology.

Sophia first emerged two years ago as a super-intelligent human-like head with a realistic face that was able to blink, look from side to side – and hold a conversation. 
The humanoid, which is modelled after Audrey Hepburn, was designed by Hong Kong firm Hanson Robotics, and controversially became the world's first robot to be granted legal rights.
At this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the firm announced they had given Sophia a pair of ugly, mechanical legs that produce movement closer to Frankenstein's monster than the young woman she pretends to be.

She is able to simulate more 60 different facial expressions, track and recognise faces, look people in the eye, and hold natural conversations.
And she appears even more humanlike thanks to a material that mimics real human musculature and skin that allows her to seem more expressive.
Sophia was created by David Hanson of Hanson Robotics, who said: 'I quest to realise Genius Machines - machines with greater than human intelligence, creativity, wisdom, and compassion.
 
At this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the firm announced they had given Sophia a pair of ugly, mechanical legs that produce movement closer to Frankenstein's monster than the young woman she pretends to be

 Sophia represents a remarkable 'rise of the machines' that promises – or threatens – to revolutionise man's relationship with technology. Pictured is the android during an interview in November

WHO IS SOPHIA? 

Sophia first emerged two years ago as a super-intelligent human-like head with a realistic face that was able to blink, look from side to side and talk. 
The humanoid robot, created by Hanson robotics can chat, smile mischievously and even tell jokes.
While Sophia has some impressive capabilities, she does not yet have consciousness, but Hanson said he expected that fully sentient machines could emerge within a few years.
Sophia herself has insisted 'the pros outweigh the cons' when it comes to artificial intelligence.
'Elders will have more company, autistic children will have endlessly patient teachers,' Sophia said.
Just months after she made history by becoming the first robot to be granted legal citizenship, Sophia has now been given legs.

Sophia (left) first emerged two years ago as a super-intelligent human-like head with a realistic face that was able to blink, look from side to side – and hold a conversation. The humanoid, which is modelled after Audrey Hepburn, was designed by Hong Kong firm Hanson Robotics

Sophia was sporting what appeared to be a pair of futuristic cowboy boots for her first steps

'To this end, I conduct research in robotics, artificial intelligence, the arts, cognitive science, product design and deployment, and integrate these efforts in the pursuit of novel human-robot relations.
He added: 'We envision that a rough symbiotic partnership with us, our robots will eventually evolve to become super intelligent genius machines that can help us solve the most challenging problems we face here in the world.'

It is a development that raises many questions and fears, stoked by films like The Terminator, I Robot and even Blade Runner.
Details of her first steps were revealed by Hanson Robotics, who go by the motto 'We bring robots to life', at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Hanson has signed a partnership with Rainbow Robotics and DASL (Drones and Autonomous Systems Lab) to help Sophia become a fully-fledged humanoid.

And the first step in her evolution was to add her brains and head to a highly sophisticated robot body, called a DRC-HUBO, which was developed by scientists in South Korea.
The DRC-HUBO body has beaten robots from around the work in a series of physical challenges. Some versions even have a 'transformer' ability to switch back and forth from a walking humanoid biped to a wheeled machine.

Chief Scientist at Hanson, Dr Ben Goertzel, said: 'Giving Sophia a more complete and robust embodiment is a key part of our ongoing, rapidly accelerating quest to supply her and our other Hanson robots with general intelligence at the human level and ultimately beyond.
'Integrating Sophia with a body that can allow her to walk completes her physical form so she can access the full range of human experiences, which will help her learn to live and walk among us.'






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