Zimbabwe reached a major milestone in its technological progress with the unveiling of the country’s first humanoid robot, Sophia, at the University of Zimbabwe on Thursday, December 12.
This event was seen as a significant step in the nation’s adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
Sophia was developed in collaboration between the renowned robotics company Hanson Robotics and researchers from the University of Zimbabwe’s computer science and AI departments.
The robot boasts advanced AI systems and computer vision, enabling it to engage in natural conversations, replicate human movements, and move smoothly through its environment.
Honourable Tino Machakaire, the Minister of Youth, attended the event and praised the achievement. He shared his thoughts on X, saying, “The future of Zimbabwe in Artificial Intelligence is very bright as reflected today on the occasion of the launch of Zimbabwe’s first humanoid robot at the University of Zimbabwe. I had an interesting exchange with Sophia the humanoid robot on a range of contemporary subjects.”
The announcement has generated mixed reactions on social media. While many Zimbabweans have praised the country’s efforts to stay aligned with global technological trends, others have pointed out that Sophia was originally created in Hong Kong.
