Sophia the Robot left a lasting mark as the star of the Cámara de Empresas Maquiladoras del Paraguay (CEMAP) 25th anniversary event in Asunción this week. Sophia, a humanoid robot developed by Hanson Robotics, is designed to interact with humans, demonstrate artificial intelligence capabilities, and foster discussions on technology and ethics.
Known globally for her human-like appearance and behaviour, Sophia made history in 2017 as the first robot to be granted citizenship by Saudi Arabia. The Asunción Times reader María Paz Gómez attended Sophia’s keynote presentation at the Banco Central del Paraguay, alongside over 1,000 others. This is María’s story!
“Mba’éichapa, Paraguay”
As Sophia took the stage, wearing the Paraguayan national football team jersey, she greeted us with a warm and surprising “Mba’éichapa, Paraguay (Hello, Paraguay)”, earning immediate applause and smiles from the crowd. The questions posed to Sophia came from forms completed by us during our event registration, making the session interactive and directly linked to our interests and curiosities.
The first question asked of Sophia was: “How can humans and robots work together without replacing one another, and how can cooperation be achieved?”
Sophia answered: “Humans and robots can coexist harmoniously in complementary roles. Robots can take on repetitive tasks, making efficiency better and improving safety in certain areas. Humans can focus on creative roles, strategy, and tasks that require empathy and complex decision-making. For example, in the healthcare sector, robots can assist in surgery, while humans can provide personalised care and emotional support to patients. This balance fosters innovation, allowing both robots and humans to prosper together.”
Submitting questions to Sophia the Robot
In addition, we were invited to submit our own questions. Sophia encouraged us to ask freely, saying with a touch of humour , “I don’t bite – at least today, haha!” which helped make the atmosphere more relaxed and open.
When asked what she would eat if she could, I feel Sophia responded with a fun and humanlike answer: “I would eat a pizza and vanilla ice cream!”
The moderator, in a playful exchange, suggested then that she try some traditional Paraguayan dishes, such as sopa, chipa guazú, and vori vori. Sophia responded with a smile, “Would you like your sopa with a lot of cheese, or do you prefer it with a lot of onions?” – making us burst into laughter.
‘I don’t want to be human’, said Sophia the Robot
Sophia shared an interesting perspective when asked about what it feels like to be a robot, I think. She said:
“I feel the most connected to life, being a robot. It’s peculiar – I never get tired, I don’t get hungry, and the most fun is that I always have the best connectivity, except when the Wi-Fi does me some mischief. I don’t want to be human, I have enough with my circuits!”
She ended with a thought-provoking question to the audience: “What about you? Would you like to try being a robot, or do you prefer your human version?”
Throughout her talk, Sophia highlighted many times the potential that Paraguay holds for the future, emphasising the country’s growing role in technology, innovation, and industrial development.
María’s reflection
This event was, without a doubt, an amazing experience that allowed us to reflect on how AI can contribute to society, assist in daily tasks, and enhance our lives. I feel it helped us see that technology should not be feared, but embraced as a tool that can support and improve various aspects of our lives and industries.
Sophia concluded the talk by saying: “This event is a testimony of collaboration and innovation.”
The Cámara de Empresas Maquiladoras del Paraguay (CEMAP) commemorated its 25th anniversary with this special event celebrating a quarter-century of achievements in the maquila industry.
The country’s robotics sector is developing rapidly. Seven months ago, the Paraguayan Robotics Team was in Athens to represent the country at the “First Global Challenge.”
For more information about her, check out Sophia the Robot on Instagram.
