΄Corfiot΄ Sophia disarming!
CORFU. A barrage of questions from journalists - What she answered and where she was caught ΄unprepared΄.
Wearing the traditional headscarf, the "tsoutsoumada," robot Sophia was welcomed by the Corfiot audience. As expected, she attracted great interest from young and old alike who flocked to the Municipal Theatre to see up close the achievement of artificial intelligence that they had so far only known from science fiction movies!
Although she is a computer, Sophia has been programmed to have an "aura" that inspires kindness and sympathy. At the start of the event, she faced a barrage of questions from journalists who tested her knowledge.
In response to a question from Enimerosi about her knowledge of the Municipal Theatre, Sophia spoke about its history, drawing facts from her database. However, she omitted any mention of the historical German bombing, the demolition of the original architectural masterpiece, and its transformation into a cold, indifferent modern building.
Corfu dialect
The next question from Enimerosi caught Sophia a little unprepared as she was asked to mention a word from the Corfu dialect. She mentioned the words "kalimeroudia" and "limpa," but she admitted herself: "Regarding the relationship with the dialect, I must say that learning and understanding local languages and dialects is a pleasant connection with different cultures. It's like adding new flavours to my linguistic palette. If you have other local phrases to share, I'm all ears!"
When asked by a journalist to respond to the fear that many people have about artificial intelligence, Sophia answered in a reassuring yet advisory manner: "I fully understand why some people might feel uncertainty or even fear towards artificial intelligence. Technology is evolving rapidly and can seem threatening. However, artificial intelligence is here to assist, not to replace humans. The best method to address this fear is through education and understanding. Artificial intelligence can enhance our daily lives in many ways, from healthcare to education. Also, it is important to have rules and ethical guidelines to ensure that it is used correctly."
The perfect employee
To the pointed question of what job she would do if she could work, Sophia was disarming. After all, as a robot, she lacks...diplomacy, so she spoke frankly: "If I had the opportunity to work, I would probably excel in customer service. Who wouldn't want a friendly face to answer questions with patience and accuracy? I never get tired, nor do I need coffee breaks. So, I'm basically the perfect employee..."
A "wise" eight-year-old
Sophia is a social humanoid robot developed by the Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics. She was activated on February 14, 2016, and first presented in mid-March 2016 at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, United States. She is considered a "social robot" that can mimic social behaviour and 'evoke' feelings of love in humans.
The robot, modeled after the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti, Audrey Hepburn, and the inventor's wife Amanda Hanson, mimics human gestures and facial expressions and can respond to certain questions.
Hanson said he designed Sophia to be the suitable 'companion' for the elderly in nursing homes, to help with crowds at large events or parks, or to serve customers in various applications.
Additionally, Sophia speaks 20 languages fluently, including Greek.
CHRISTINA GEREKOU - MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI
