Saudi Arabia proudly reveals Sara, its very first humanoid robot. Created by QSS AI & Robots in Riyadh, Sara represents a blend of tradition and innovation, marking a significant milestone for the country’s embrace of advanced technology.
“Sara knows she’s a girl, 25 years old, 1.62 meters tall, and she wears traditional Saudi clothing,” explained Elie Metri, CEO of QSS AI & Robots, in an exclusive interview with Business Insider. Metri stressed that Sara is programmed to avoid discussing sensitive topics like politics and sex, respecting Saudi cultural norms.
Sara’s appearance is deliberately crafted to reflect Saudi traditions, wearing the customary abaya. Additionally, she can communicate in both Arabic and English, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to technological advancement. According to news site Asharq Al Awsat, means that Sara can detect and understand a variety of different Saudi dialects.
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Sara’s conversations are powered by a unique language learning model developed by QSS AI & Robots. LLMs are trained using machine learning on huge sets of data, “We don’t rely on anyone else’s libraries, not even ChatGPT,” Metri told BI. Unlike other systems, Sara’s AI operates independently, tailored to understand and respond within the cultural context of Saudi Arabia.
Despite modernization efforts, Saudi Arabia’s legal system, based on Sharia law, imposes certain restrictions on discussions about sensitive topics. Sara’s programming aligns with these boundaries, demonstrating a delicate balance between technological progress and cultural values.
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While Sara’s introduction celebrates Saudi Arabia’s technological achievements, it also recalls a previous incident involving another robot from QSS AI & Robots, Muhammad. A viral video sparked controversy, with accusations of inappropriate behaviour directed at Muhammad.
However, Metri dismisses these allegations, attributing the incident to cultural misunderstandings. He insists that Muhammad’s actions were harmless, similar to human gestures during conversation. Despite the online uproar, attendees at the DeepFest conference in Riyadh, where the incident occurred, perceived no wrongdoing, highlighting cultural nuances.
“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,” he said in an interview with Business Insider
