The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) recently showcased its first female humanoid named Sara. Clad in a veil covering her head and an abaya, the robot embodies a traditional Arab woman. However, it's not just her appearance that makes Sara stand out, but rather the function and design that make her a true-blue Arab. According to Elie Metri, the CEO of Riyadh-based QSS AI & Robots, the humanoid is programmed to avoid talking about sex or politics to make her adhere to the country's conservative values. Sara reflects on a balance between the advancing world and meeting cultural standards.
In the Sharia law, which is strictly followed in Saudi Arabia, women are restricted from publicly engaging in conversations about sex or politics. Thus, the female humanoid is constructed to mirror these cultural nuances in the technologically inclined world.
How Sara Embodies Futurism In Tradition
A private organisation called QSS AI and Robotics unveiled two humanoids made in Saudi Arabia recently. Despite the mega-publicised and glamorous launch event in Riyadh recently, the robots stirred debates across the world. For instance, the robot Sara is dressed in 'modest' clothing and constructed to avoid talking about sex or politics, adhering to the Sharia law.
Sara, a bilingual 'female' humanoid is equipped with 'self-awareness', says Elie Metri, the CEO of QSS. "Sara knows that she's a girl, she's 25 years old, she's 1.62m [5ft, 3in], she's wearing Saudi clothing," he told Business Insider in an interview. “She should be nice, not talking politics, not talking sex because we’re in Saudi Arabia. It shouldn’t go into those topics," he added.
The robot opened discussions around the country's controversial laws regarding dress codes and prohibitions on women discussing certain topics publicly. Balancing technological evolution with traditional morality has long been a topic of contention around the world. The mix of moral values in scientific advancements often creates a false sense of human consciousness.
Controversy Surrounding Saudi's Male Humanoid
Alongside Sara, QSS also launched a male humanoid Muhammed, who was dressed in traditional clothing just like his female counterpart. Muhammed donned a red keffiyeh and thobe (long gown), once again showcasing Saudi Arabian culture in the technological world. The robot caused a controversy when it allegedly made inappropriate physical contact with a female reporter.
In a video widely shared online, Muhammed can be seen brushing his arm against a female journalist's back, triggering a global debate on human tendencies toward robots. Netizens accused the creators of deliberately designing the male robot to behave this way. This triggered conversations around human biases making their way into machine and artificial intelligence.
However, Metri alleged that it was simply a glitch. "While humans are speaking, we move hands. We are not mannequins. It's the same for a robot. Sexual assault is different from a robot hand touching the jacket of a lady," he said. The contradiction between Sara's alleged self-awareness and Muhammad's glitch prompts an examination of human views and AI engineering.
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