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“Pervert?” - Saudi Arabia’s 1st male robot sparks controversy on launch

The robot is designed to carry out tasks that require high precision or work in conditions that may pose a danger to humans. Read More

Thursday March 7, 2024 10:12 PM, ummid.com News Network

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia showcased ‘Muhammad’, the Kingdom’s first locally manufactured male robot, at DeepFest 2024 in Riyadh, a landmark tech moment that however ended in a controversy because of the robot’s ‘awkward gesture’ towards a female reporter.

“I am Muhammad, the first Saudi robot in the form of a man. I was manufactured and developed here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a national project to demonstrate our achievements in the field of artificial intelligence,” the humanoid robot named Mohammad introduced itself at the launch event Monday.

The Saudi bilingual robot’s exceptional motor skills enable smooth, natural interactions with humans, enhancing the sense of authenticity through facial expressions, lip movements, and speech sync.

The robot is designed to carry out tasks that require high precision or work in conditions that may pose a danger to humans, contributing to enhancing safety and production efficiency.

Controversy

However, an unexpected gesture towards a female reporter at the launch event sparked a controversy with many calling it ‘sexist’, ‘pervert’ and ‘womaniser’ robot and creep.

The controversy erupted after some social media users found “inappropriate” and “harassing” Saudi male robot ‘Android Mohammad’ touching the back of the female reporter.

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The first Saudi robot vs anchorwoman pic.twitter.com/fjz10qPx1h

— Githii (@githii) March 7, 2024

Some others speculated that the hand movement of the robot was a technical malfunction and unintentional.

Tech experts however said the female presenter, Rawya Kassem, was close to the robot and hence it moved its hand to warn the presenter to move cautiously.

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