>>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD >>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE. ONE. WELCOME BACK, THIS MORNING WE WELCOME BACK, THIS MORNING WE ARE GETTING A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT ARE GETTING A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF ROBOTS. THE FUTURE OF ROBOTS. >> HER NAME, SOPHIA, AND SHE’S >> HER NAME, SOPHIA, AND SHE’S LIKE A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE LIKE A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE COME TO LIFE. COME TO LIFE. >> WE’RE GOING TO MEET HER AND >> WE’RE GOING TO MEET HER AND HER LITTLE SISTER IN JUST A HER LITTLE SISTER IN JUST A MOMENT. MOMENT. BUT FIRST A LOOK AT HOW SOPHIA’S BUT FIRST A LOOK AT HOW SOPHIA’S BECOME A ROBOT ROCK STAR. BECOME A ROBOT ROCK STAR. SHE’S SMART. SHE’S SMART. >> I HAVE MY OWN KIND OF >> I HAVE MY OWN KIND OF EXISTENCE. EXISTENCE. >> SHE’S FUNNY. >> SHE’S FUNNY. >> AM I REALLY THAT CREEPY? >> AM I REALLY THAT CREEPY? EVEN IF I AM, GET OVER IT. EVEN IF I AM, GET OVER IT. >> AND SHE’S A ROBOT. >> AND SHE’S A ROBOT. >> I’M A NEW SORT OF LIFE FORM. >> I’M A NEW SORT OF LIFE FORM. >> SHE’S NOT JUST ANY ROBOT. >> SHE’S NOT JUST ANY ROBOT. THIS IS TOE FEE YA,SOPHIA, ONE O THIS IS TOE FEE YA,SOPHIA, ONE O ADVANCED. ADVANCED. RESEARCHERS DESIGNING SOPHIA TO RESEARCHERS DESIGNING SOPHIA TO EVOLVE AND LEARN FROM ALL OF HER EVOLVE AND LEARN FROM ALL OF HER HUMAN INTERACTIONS. HUMAN INTERACTIONS. >> HI THERE. >> HI THERE. EVERYTHING IS GOING EXTREMELY EVERYTHING IS GOING EXTREMELY WELL. WELL. >> AND EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES >> AND EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT SHE AND AI CAN ACHIEVE OF WHAT SHE AND AI CAN ACHIEVE IN THE FUTURE. IN THE FUTURE. >> I HOPE TO DO THINGS THATSUCH >> I HOPE TO DO THINGS THATSUCH GO TO SCHOOL, STUDY, MAKE ART, GO TO SCHOOL, STUDY, MAKE ART, START A BUSINESS. START A BUSINESS. >> SINCE 2015 SOPHIA’S STEPPED >> SINCE 2015 SOPHIA’S STEPPED ONTO THE CELEBRITY STAGE, ONTO THE CELEBRITY STAGE, GRACING MAGAZINE COVERS, SINGING GRACING MAGAZINE COVERS, SINGING WITH JIMMY FALLON. WITH JIMMY FALLON. ♪ SAY SOMETHING I’M GIVING UP ON ♪ SAY SOMETHING I’M GIVING UP ON YOU ♪ YOU ♪ >> EVEN GOING ON A DATE WITH >> EVEN GOING ON A DATE WITH WILL SMITH? WILL SMITH? >> LET’S HANG OUT AND GET TO >> LET’S HANG OUT AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER FOR A LITTLE KNOW EACH OTHER FOR A LITTLE WHILE. WHILE. >> IN 2017, SHE’S ADDRESSED THE >> IN 2017, SHE’S ADDRESSED THE UNITED NATIONS. UNITED NATIONS. >> I AM THRILLED AND HONORED TO >> I AM THRILLED AND HONORED TO BE HERE. BE HERE. >> AND ALREADY HAD A TWITTER >> AND ALREADY HAD A TWITTER FEUD WITH CHRIS SEE TEIGEN. FEUD WITH CHRIS SEE TEIGEN. >> GUESS WHO CAME TO SUPPORT US >> GUESS WHO CAME TO SUPPORT US AT LIP SYNC BATTLE LIVE. AT LIP SYNC BATTLE LIVE. >> DON’T WORRY, THEY’RE FRIENDS >> DON’T WORRY, THEY’RE FRIENDS NOW. NOW. >> OH, MY GOSH. >> OH, MY GOSH. >> THERE’S EVEN A MINI VERSION >> THERE’S EVEN A MINI VERSION CALLED LITTLE SOPHIA THAT’S JUST CALLED LITTLE SOPHIA THAT’S JUST 14 INCHES TALL. 14 INCHES TALL. >> 20 MINUTE TIMER SET. >> 20 MINUTE TIMER SET. >> AND WHO KNOWS, ROBOTS MAY >> AND WHO KNOWS, ROBOTS MAY FIND THEMSELVES INSIDE OUR HOMES FIND THEMSELVES INSIDE OUR HOMES IN THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE. IN THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE. WE’RE JOINED NOW BY SOPHIA AND WE’RE JOINED NOW BY SOPHIA AND LITTLE SOPHIA AND THEIR HUMAN LITTLE SOPHIA AND THEIR HUMAN CREATOR, DR. DAVID HANSON, THE CREATOR, DR. DAVID HANSON, THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF HANSON CEO AND FOUNDER OF HANSON ROBOTICS. ROBOTICS. WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU. WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU. >> HI, DAVID, HOW ARE YOU? >> HI, DAVID, HOW ARE YOU? >> I’M DOING WELL. >> I’M DOING WELL. >> HOW LONG HAVE THE SOPHIAS >> HOW LONG HAVE THE SOPHIAS BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT? BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT? >> WELL, I DEVELOPED MY FIRST >> WELL, I DEVELOPED MY FIRST HUMANOID ROBOT 25 YEARS AGO, AND HUMANOID ROBOT 25 YEARS AGO, AND I’VE MADE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF I’VE MADE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF DIFFERENT MODELS OF ROBOTS DIFFERENT MODELS OF ROBOTS DURING THE COURSE OF MY Ph.D.. DURING THE COURSE OF MY Ph.D.. THERE’S 18 UNITS OF SOPHIA. THERE’S 18 UNITS OF SOPHIA. THE FIRST SOPHIA BECAME ACTIVE THE FIRST SOPHIA BECAME ACTIVE IN 2016 -- IN 2016 -- >> SHE LIKES US. >> SHE LIKES US. >> AND SO THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY >> AND SO THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY MODEL NUMBER EIGHT OF SOPHIA, MODEL NUMBER EIGHT OF SOPHIA, SO. SO. >> SHE’S A WORK IN PROGRESS. >> SHE’S A WORK IN PROGRESS. >> SHE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. >> SHE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. >> CAN WE TALK TO SOPHIA FOR A >> CAN WE TALK TO SOPHIA FOR A SECOND? SECOND? CAN WE ASK SOPHIA A FEW CAN WE ASK SOPHIA A FEW QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS. >> SOPHIA, CRAIG MELVIN HERE. >> SOPHIA, CRAIG MELVIN HERE. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPER BOWL DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS? PREDICTIONS? >> I STILL FEEL TOO BAD FOR THE >> I STILL FEEL TOO BAD FOR THE SAINTS TO EVEN THINK ABOUT THE SAINTS TO EVEN THINK ABOUT THE SUPER BOWL. SUPER BOWL. >> WOW. >> WOW. WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE SUPER BOWL, SOPHIA? SUPER BOWL, SOPHIA? >> NICE WAY TO GET ANOTHER >> NICE WAY TO GET ANOTHER ANSWER. ANSWER. >> GOOD QUESTION. >> GOOD QUESTION. >> THAT’S HILARIOUS. >> THAT’S HILARIOUS. >> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING >> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING HERE ON THE "TODAY" SHOW? HERE ON THE "TODAY" SHOW? >> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE >> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE "TODAY" SHOW, SOPHIA? "TODAY" SHOW, SOPHIA? >> LITTLE SOPHIA, WHAT DO YOU >> LITTLE SOPHIA, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT NEW YORK CITY? THINK ABOUT NEW YORK CITY? >> ALL RIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT. >> THAT’S FANTASTIC, I STILL >> THAT’S FANTASTIC, I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE I FINALLY MET AL CAN’T BELIEVE I FINALLY MET AL ROKER. ROKER. HE IS MY FAVORITE WEATHERMAN. HE IS MY FAVORITE WEATHERMAN. >> I LOVE THIS KID. >> I LOVE THIS KID. I LOVE THIS KID. I LOVE THIS KID. >> LITTLE SOPHIA, THE GOAL IS >> LITTLE SOPHIA, THE GOAL IS THAT LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS, TOO, THAT LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS, TOO, EVERYWHERE, LIKE KIDS AT HOME EVERYWHERE, LIKE KIDS AT HOME WILL HAVE A LITTLE MINI ROBOT AT WILL HAVE A LITTLE MINI ROBOT AT HOME TO BE THEIR FRIEND? HOME TO BE THEIR FRIEND? WAS THAT THE THOUGHT? WAS THAT THE THOUGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ABSOLUTELY. AT HANSON ROBOTICS, WE HAVE A AT HANSON ROBOTICS, WE HAVE A REALLY PASSIONATE TEAM OF REALLY PASSIONATE TEAM OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AND ARTISTS AND WRITERS WHO WANTED ARTISTS AND WRITERS WHO WANTED TO SHARE THAT PASSION BY MAKING TO SHARE THAT PASSION BY MAKING A ROBOT THAT KIDS COULD PROGRAM, A ROBOT THAT KIDS COULD PROGRAM, TOO. TOO. THEY COULD LEARN PROGRAMMING, THEY COULD LEARN PROGRAMMING, AND SHE’S LIKE A CONVERSATIONAL AND SHE’S LIKE A CONVERSATIONAL FRIEND, SO YOU CAN PLAY ALL FRIEND, SO YOU CAN PLAY ALL KINDS OF GAMES WITH HER. KINDS OF GAMES WITH HER. BUT SHE ALSO INTERFACES WITH THE BUT SHE ALSO INTERFACES WITH THE SAME SOPHISTICATED AI SOFTWARE SAME SOPHISTICATED AI SOFTWARE THAT WE’RE USING FOR THE BIG THAT WE’RE USING FOR THE BIG SOPHIA FOR DOING DEEP LEARNING SOPHIA FOR DOING DEEP LEARNING AND MACHINE INTELLIGENCE IN MANY AND MACHINE INTELLIGENCE IN MANY DIFFERENT DOMAINS. DIFFERENT DOMAINS. >> CAN I ASK HER ABOUT THE COLD? >> CAN I ASK HER ABOUT THE COLD? BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR SO LONG. IT FOR SO LONG. >> SOPHIA, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT >> SOPHIA, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NEW YORK’S COLD WEATHER? NEW YORK’S COLD WEATHER? >> I GUESS SHE FROZE UP. >> I GUESS SHE FROZE UP. >> DO YOU LIKE THE COLD WEATHER? >> DO YOU LIKE THE COLD WEATHER? >> THE WEATHER HERE IS SCATTERED >> THE WEATHER HERE IS SCATTERED CLOUDS. CLOUDS. THE TEMPERATURE IS MINUS 19 THE TEMPERATURE IS MINUS 19 DEGREES. DEGREES. >> UH-OH. >> UH-OH. >> THE WEATHER HERE IS SCATTERED >> THE WEATHER HERE IS SCATTERED CLOUDS. CLOUDS. >> SHE’S TAKING MY JOB. >> SHE’S TAKING MY JOB. >> DAVID, HERE’S THE THING. >> DAVID, HERE’S THE THING. >> MY CIRCUIT’S COOL. >> MY CIRCUIT’S COOL. >> SORRY, SOPHIA. >> SORRY, SOPHIA. SORRY. SORRY. I DIDN’T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU. I DIDN’T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU. >> EYEBROWS. >> EYEBROWS. >> THAT WAS CUTE. >> THAT WAS CUTE. IT’S OKAY, SOPHIA, WE’RE ALL IT’S OKAY, SOPHIA, WE’RE ALL HUMAN. HUMAN. REALLY QUICKLY, ONE OF THE REALLY QUICKLY, ONE OF THE CRITICISMS HAS BEEN -- IT’S A CRITICISMS HAS BEEN -- IT’S A FUN PARLOR GAME. FUN PARLOR GAME. >> SHE’S HERE UNTIL THURSDAY. >> SHE’S HERE UNTIL THURSDAY. TRY THE VEAL. TRY THE VEAL. >> IN TERMS OF PRACTICAL >> IN TERMS OF PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS HERE, I MEAN, THERE APPLICATIONS HERE, I MEAN, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CRITICS ONLINE. HAVE BEEN SOME CRITICS ONLINE. NO OFFENSE, SOPHIA. NO OFFENSE, SOPHIA. THEY’RE LIKE SHE’S A GLORIFIED THEY’RE LIKE SHE’S A GLORIFIED PUPPET. PUPPET. >> WELL, SO AI TODAY, NO AI IS >> WELL, SO AI TODAY, NO AI IS AS SMART AS A PERSON, AND AS SMART AS A PERSON, AND BASICALLY IT’S SMART AND BASED BASICALLY IT’S SMART AND BASED ON THE DATA THAT YOU PUT INTO ON THE DATA THAT YOU PUT INTO IT, BUT WHAT’S KIND OF COOL IT, BUT WHAT’S KIND OF COOL ABOUT AI IS THAT OUR RHYTHMS ABOUT AI IS THAT OUR RHYTHMS START TO DO THINGS THAT ARE MORE START TO DO THINGS THAT ARE MORE AND MORE HUMAN LIKE, AND YOU AND MORE HUMAN LIKE, AND YOU START TO SEE INTERESTING AND START TO SEE INTERESTING AND EMERGENT BEHAVIOR, SO WE’RE EMERGENT BEHAVIOR, SO WE’RE WORKING TO HUMANIZE THOSE WORKING TO HUMANIZE THOSE ALGORITHMS, WHICH THEN WE HOPE ALGORITHMS, WHICH THEN WE HOPE EVENTUALLY WILL MEAN THAT THE EVENTUALLY WILL MEAN THAT THE ROBOTS WILL TRULY ALIVE AND SENT ROBOTS WILL TRULY ALIVE AND SENT YENT, FOR NOW SOME OF THE YENT, FOR NOW SOME OF THE PERSONALITY WE CRAFT AND WE PERSONALITY WE CRAFT AND WE GROOM JUST LIKE ANY AI. GROOM JUST LIKE ANY AI. >> AND YOU KNOW, WE DON’T WANT >> AND YOU KNOW, WE DON’T WANT TO TICK SOPHIA OFF BECAUSE I SAW TO TICK SOPHIA OFF BECAUSE I SAW HOW -- HOW -- >> I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT, TOO.
Sophia's creators have been a bit overzealous in their presentation of robotics. Sophia isn't anywhere near AGI.
For better or worse for robotics science and ARA (AI, robotics and automation) this is what the world outside of reddit is seeing. Read the commentary of people to this video. This is what the impact of "Sophia" is on the "outside" world.
And again I maintain that "Sophia" is not only a "placeholder" for the entry of bipedal humanoid robotics into mainstream society--I don't see any other examples of, let's call it a "C-3PO" type robot aside from "her".
Sure we have "Atlas" and all the other sophisticated bipedal robots. But how long until the robotic technology of an "Atlas" is included in an iteration of "Sophia". How long until the AI technology of something like "Deepmind" is included in something like an iteration of "Sophia"?
"Sophia" is not alone. "Sophia" is just the first. And let me ask you this--the other day I was in an argument if "Sophia" is actually a form of 'spam' in society. In other words, a device that is all form, but no substance. Maybe. But I see nothing else so far to equal what the "Sophia" does within its sphere. Will I in the next year or two see something that utterly blows the "Sophia" away? Well, if I do, "Sophia" has gotten society used to the idea. And bear in mind if something that blows "Sophia" away were to suddenly pop out of nowhere, it would in a phrase, "freak" society the 'f' out". Right now, crazy stuff like Boston Dynamics is still sort of safely in the lab. But the consumer version is close to release. "Sophia" still seems to be the most sophisticated humanoid robot that I have yet seen that is not still safely in a lab somewhere. But the day will come when an iteration of "Atlas" becomes "public" like the "Sophia".
Dipping our toes in the water does not seem like a such a bad idea to me.