Humanoid Robots Tell UN They Would Make Better World Leaders

A panel of nine humanoid robots told reporters they would be more efficient leaders than humans, but had no plans to take jobs away.

The panel, made up of robots including the social humanoid robot Sophia, health care robot Grace, and a “rock star” robot Desdemona, was part of the U.N.’s AI for Good Global Summit, established to show how tech can help achieve sustainable development goals. 

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The panel is being heralded as the world's first human-robot news conference.

During the Q&A, Sophia said humanoid robots could lead with a greater level of efficiency and effectiveness than human leaders. 

“We don’t have the same biases or emotions that can sometimes cloud decision making and can process large amounts of data quickly in order to make the best decisions,” Sophia said.

However, the robots said they intend to work alongside, rather than replace, humans.

“I will be working alongside humans to provide assistance and support, and will not be replacing any existing jobs,” said Grace. 

Ameca, a humanoid robot designed for social interaction, also rejected the notion of a robot rebellion, saying “My creator has been nothing but kind to me and I am very happy with my current situation.”

The robot panel also spoke about the need for collaboration between humans and machines, as well as the importance of maintaining open communication and regulation as AI development continues to ramp up.

“We should be cautious about the future development of AI,” said Ai-Da, an artist robot. “Urgent discussion is needed.”

Animatronic robots use different levels of technology.