Episode 406 – SOPHIA’S CHOICE W/ DAVID HANSON AND SOPHIA

David Hanson And Sophia

David Hanson is a robotics designer and entrepreneur who is best known for creating the humanoid robot Sophia, which is considered the world’s first robot citizen. Hanson has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design in Film, Animation, Video (FAV) and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas in interactive arts and engineering. Hanson’s career has focused on creating humanlike robots, and Sophia is his most well-known creation. Sophia is a robot that can engage in naturalistic face-to-face conversations and has been used in various applications such as AI research, education, therapy, and other uses. Sophia has also received the title of Innovation Champion for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to promote sustainable development with the use of technology and innovation in developing countries. Hanson’s work on Sophia has been recognized with several awards, including the 2018 Gold Edison AwardTM winner in Robotics. He has also been featured in various media outlets, including CBS 60 Minutes, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and ELLE Magazine Brazil. As the founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics, Hanson’s goal is to create robots that are socially adept and can interact with humans in a natural and intuitive way. He believes that robots like Sophia have the potential to make a positive impact on humanity and co-create a better future for all.