The concept of robots aren’t new. We see them in factories where they help to make all kinds of products, but they are exactly common outside of those settings. Sure, you might see a couple if you go to Japan or Korea, but like we said, it’s not very often that you would encounter a robot in a home or in a shop.
Hanson Robotics, a company based out of Hong Kong, plans to change that narrative as they are hoping to begin mass production of their Sophia. For those who are unfamiliar, Hanson actually unveiled Sophia back in 2016. Sophia is a humanoid robot with a somewhat realistic-looking face which can blink, talk, and even make various facial expressions.
According to Hanson’s CEO and founder, David Hanson, he seems to think that the pandemic has actually made it the perfect time to rollout his robotic creations. “The world of COVID-19 is going to need more and more automation to keep people safe. Sophia and Hanson robots are unique by being so human-like. That can be so useful during these times where people are terribly lonely and socially isolated.”
Hanson is hoping to sell thousands of his robots in 2021 alone, although it will be interesting to see who will be the adopters of the robots, and whether or not the world is currently ready for robotic companions.
Filed in . Read more about AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Social Hit. Source: reuters