Saudi Arabia becomes first country to grant a robot citizenship

[johcaschro]

Saudi Arabia becomes first country to grant a robot citizenship– and people are saying it already has more rights than women

"A robot has been granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia and it appears to already have more rights than the country's women.

The robot Sophia was created by Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics and it appeared at a technology conference in Saudi's capital, Riyadh. 

It was able to appear on stage by itself without the permission of a male guardian and with its head and body uncovered. 

Many people took to Twitter to point out that Sophia technically had more rights than women. One woman tweeted: “Sophia, the first robot to be granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia, has more rights than the human women there."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-robot-citizenship-more-rights-than-...

Someone made the comment on this news “I’m wondering if robot Sophia can leave Saudi Arabia without her guardian consent ! Since she’s officially Saudi.”

and, she doesn't have to wear the veil either, despite "her" appearance being female.

What a weird country.

[bsal6160]

its running a software programme. no more no less. people are getting carried away because IT looks a lot like a human.

[johcaschro]

IT sure does look like a human, complete with mostly appropriate facial expressions. Of course it is running a program but not all of the responses are strictly scripted. It's only a beginning. It's a hint of things to come.

The real point of this OP is that this machine, this thing, this IT, has been granted citizenship of Saudi Arabia and has been criticised as already having more rights than a real Saudi woman.

Heve you read the Asimov books about robots? Robotics (and artificial intelligence) is a real science being developed today and the technology has to begin somewhere. The questions are, where will it go and where will it take us; and how?

[davidc4430]

if this robot was unveiled say 30 or 40 years ago people would be scoffing saying its fake, there is someone behind the curtains doing the talking and operating the face.

the wizard of oz syndrome

the fact we are even seeing something this advanced now tells us AI is moving forward quicker and quicker.

[johcaschro]

And is no one interested in this question?

Some countries whose people follow a conservative expression of Islam don't even grant their real, living women a semblance of equality with their male folk.

And what's all this about the men presuming the right to "grant" such things? Who are they to assume that "right"?

Might does not necessarliy grant the "right".  Not the moral right, anyway.

But then again, some people are held captive by a societally enforced belief in

Power . . . "pouvoir" . . . has nothing to do with Justice . . . it's just