Hanson Robotics wants to help those craving company during the COVID-19 pandemic. For those not familiar with Sophia, it is a human-like robot from Hanson Robotics. For those not familiar, check out the video below. Sophia appears between the 2:10 and 5:30 marks of the 8-minute segment. In discussing the roll of companion robots, CEO David Hanson told Reuters that “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.” His company, Hanson Robotics, plans to roll out thousands of these robots in 2021. They aim to roll out four models — including Sophia — in the first half of 2021.
The company is taking advantage of the accelerating impact of the pandemic on automation and robotics. This recent Article describes both the fame achieved by the robot, and the controversy it has created. This specific dynamic represents a phenomenon likely to dominate discussions during this decade: how will society react to these advancements? When watching Sophia in the video, can you see the robot as a companion for the lonely? Given the mental health issues facing society, should we dismiss or embrace it? After the video below, I have included a poll – please participate.
Explore other pandemic topics via the links below.
FEATURED: A Post Pandemic Society
- Another Roaring Twenties?
- Life After Coronavirus
- E-Commerce Demonstrates the Accelerating Power Of COVID-19
- Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World
- COVID-19 Accelerates Innovation In Healthcare
- Eight Trends Amplified By COVID-19
- Bill Gates Looks At Life After COVID-19
- Covid-19 Leaves Its Mark on Real Estate
- The Pandemic Is Impacting Multiple Domains
- A Glimpse Into Your Views On Catalysts For Change
- The Future Of The Office And Changing Work For The Better
- Tectonic Shifts Expected As Digital Expands
- COVID-19 Is Not Slowing Artificial Intelligence Down
- What History Tells Us About Deglobalization
- The Augmented Age: An Accelerated Path
- The Personalized Health Ecosystem
- Aftershocks and Opportunities: Scenarios For A Post-Pandemic Future
- The Emergence Of New Commerce Centers And More
- Some Job Opportunities Likely To Expand
- The Far Reaching Implications Of A Shifting Work Dynamic
- Reflect, Reimagine, and Reset
- Human Behavior Determines The Path
- The Technologies And trends Accelerated By COVID-19
- Blasting Into A Contactless Future
- Digital Learning And Resilient Supply Chains
- Will Coronavirus Accelerate the Path To A Surveillance State?
- Does COVID-19 Accelerate The Loss of Jobs To Automation?
- Lack Of Comfort In Close Spaces
- A Post-Pandemic Virtual Roundtable
- Learning From Leaders Around The World
- A Digital Divide
- What Behavior Changes Will Stick?
- 30 Top Experts Describe The Things That Will Change Forever
- Global Economic Recovery
- Does COVID-19 Change Your View of Innovation?
- COVID-19 As An Accelerant
- COVID-19 Tuesday Morning News
- How Long Until The Economic New Normal?
- We Must Think Critically and Differently
- How Might The World Respond?
- Rehearsing Possible Post COVID-19 Futures
- Possible Futures Emerging Across Multiple Domains
- More Thought Leaders Weigh In On A Post Pandemic Future
- Mid-Pandemic Impact on Supply Chains
- Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Scenarios
- Is The Canary Dead?
- How Will The Corona Virus Impact Globalization?
- The Corona Virus Serves As A Catalyst For Change
- Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Scenarios
- COVID-19 Monday Morning News
- Anatomy Of An Outbreak
- Discussing A Post-Pandemic Society on Salem Radio Network
- The COVID-19 Economic Impact On China and a Glimpse Of The Future
- Assessing A Post Pandemic Future: A Video
- Coronavirus: Permanent Change? 34 Big Thinkers Explore the Possibilities
- Futurist Gerd Leonhard Looks Back From The Near Future
Reimagining the Future 
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[…] know Tesla is pursuing humanoid robots, and companion robots got an accelerating boost from Covid-19. In discussing the roll of companion robots, Hanson […]
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