World’s first robot citizen makes India debut at IIT-Bombay

Sophia, a lifelike robot, has made its first appearance at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) during its cultural extravaganza, TechFest.
 
The humanoid robot, draped in a sari, had a 15-minute conversation with a student on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to the issues facing the world in Mumbai on Saturday. 
 
However, after answering a few initial questions, Sophia went silent due to an unexplained technical snag. It started functioning again after the organisers intervened, according to a Hindustan Times report.
 
Sophia was developed by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics and activated in 2015. It imitates human gestures and facial expressions, and is able to make conversation on predefined topics. The robot was granted citizenship of Saudi Arabia in October, the report said.
 
The presence of Sophia created much buzz among students and technology enthusiasts who thronged the IIT-B’s convocation hall in large numbers.