Saudi Arabia’s First Humanoid Robot, Sara, Reflects National Values
Saudi Arabia has unveiled its first humanoid robot, named Sara. Developed by the Riyadh-based QSS AI & Robots, Sara embodies a complex mixture of technological advancement and traditional social restrictions, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
Designed to be “Nice”
“Sara knows that she’s a girl, she’s 25 years old, she’s 1.62 centimetres, and she’s wearing Saudi clothing,” explained Elie Metri, CEO of QSS AI & Robots, in an interview with Business Insider. In addition to these details, Metri emphasises that Sara “should be nice, not talk politics, not talking sex because we’re in Saudi Arabia. It shouldn’t go into those topics.”
Sara’s design deliberately reflects the traditional values of Saudi Arabia. She wears an abaya, a traditional robe-like dress, and the AI powering her conversations is programmed to avoid controversial subjects in line with societal norms. Sara’s bilingual capabilities (Arabic and English) showcase the country’s investment in technological development. Here’s a video from popular YouTube creator Dhruv Rathee interacting with the humanoid robot.
AI advancements and social restrictions
The language learning model (LLM) powering Sara is proprietary, created by QSS AI & Robots, and not reliant on external programs like ChatGPT. LLMs use machine learning trained on vast datasets to generate and understand text and speech. However, the AI’s abilities are ultimately constrained by the social context within which it functions.
Saudi Arabia’s legal system remains rooted in Sharia law, although recent years have seen some modernization efforts. These include easing strict dress codes and lifting the ban on women driving. Still, public discussions of sex and sexuality are generally taboo, and women continue to face potential punishment for political activism.
The team always have fun playing around #SARA, our Saudi Made #humanoidrobot.#robotics #ai #teamwork #saudiarabia #vision2030 pic.twitter.com/NmLdZqMih3
— Quality Support Solutions Co.Ltd. (@qltyss) May 21, 2023
Viral controversy
Sara’s creation has propelled Saudi Arabia’s AI advancements into the technological limelight. However, an earlier incident involving another QSS AI & Robots humanoid, Muhammad, caused widespread controversy. A viral video appeared to show the robot inappropriately touching a female Al Arabiya reporter. On social media, outraged viewers accused the robot of sexual impropriety.
Metri, however, dismisses the uproar. “While humans are speaking, we move hands, we are not mannequins,” he stated. “It’s the same for a robot.” From his perspective, Muhammad merely gestured while speaking and accidentally made light contact with the reporter’s jacket due to her proximity. Metri believes the incident underscores cultural differences: “The weirdness is that in the whole Middle East, even in Saudi Arabia, no one saw this as bad because they know it’s a robot.”
A complex symbol
Sara is a fascinating example of the intersection of technological innovation and deeply ingrained social values. While showcasing Saudi Arabia’s robotics and AI development prowess, her programming and design deliberately adhere to the nation’s conservative mores. The controversy sparked by Muhammad highlights the potential for misunderstandings as AI becomes more sophisticated and integrated into daily life.
