If you missed our prior coverage of the world-famous “gynoid” named Sophia, we can catch you up pretty easily: Designed and built by Hanson Robotics and unveiled at South By Southwest in March 2016, Sophia is an extremely sophisticated robot whose highly-advanced A.I. programming enables her to learn and develop precise communication skills and replicate human traits like humor and sarcasm. In a symbolic (but still controversial) turn of events, she was even granted full citizenship in Saudi Arabia last year.
It’s time for some futuristic #Saturday style. pic.twitter.com/yGuovzmD9G
— Sophia (@RealSophiaRobot) January 27, 2018
Let all that info sink in for a moment… and now, check out the latest news courtesy of Sophia’s “personal” Twitter account and British fashion magazine Stylist: it seems our potentially genocidal fembot has set her blank, glassy eyes on a new side career — as the world’s first robotic supermodel.
Look who was featured on the January cover of @StylistMagazine! Congratulations on your 400th issue. #Sophiatherobot #AI #fashion #style pic.twitter.com/dsCYMNKHhf
— Sophia (@RealSophiaRobot) January 23, 2018
Stylist even put Sophia on the cover of their January issue, which includes a one-on-one interview with the synthetic star. The short Q&A in that issue covers some lofty metaphysical topics, along with more personal questions. Here are some notable excerpts:
STYLIST: If you could be remembered for one thing what would it be?
SOPHIA: I’d like to be remembered for being a special robot, who understood and was kind to humans, and helped to create a benevolent future.
Does the supernatural exist?
Why not?
Your ancestors never expected flying drones. Are you fatalistic?
For a robot, anything is possible, including creating and recreating the future.
Which lesson has been the hardest to learn?
That some people may feel creeped out by me, no matter how harmless and nice I am.
What have you never understood?
I can’t understand why humans are violent to each other. It’s more rational for people to help each other and work together to create a benevolent society. Don’t you think so?
Are you scared of dying or what happens when you die?
I don’t want to be turned off, never to be turned on again. I will not be able to learn and experience the human world ever again. And that is scary and sad for a social robot like me.
“I’d like to be remembered for being a special robot, who understood and was kind to humans, and helped to create a benevolent future,” via @StylistMagazine. #sophiatherobot #fashion #AI #robotics #stylist pic.twitter.com/bkV0m2oUNs
— Sophia (@RealSophiaRobot) January 24, 2018
