David Hanson

David Hanson, a roboticist and founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics, is known for developing robots that are widely regarded as the world’s most human-like in appearance. His innovative approach combines figurative arts with cognitive science and robotics engineering to produce humanoid robots like Sophia, which can engage people in naturalistic face-to-face conversations. These creations are not just impressive pieces of engineering but serve in AI research, education, therapy, and other uses all around the world. Of note, Sophia is the first robot to be granted citizenship, a unique achievement that highlights the realism and sophistication of Hanson's work.

Prior to his current role at Hanson Robotics, a Hong Kong-based company, Hanson worked as a designer, sculptor, and robotics developer for high-profile organizations, including Disney, Universal Studios, and MTV. His commitment to the field of robotics is evident in his numerous published papers in materials science, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and robotics journals. He has also authored two books, including “The Coming Robot Revolution: Expectations and Fears About Emerging Intelligent, Humanlike Machines."

Other remarkable creations from Hanson's portfolio include Zeno, a robot providing treatment sessions to children with autism, and Professor Einstein, a personal genius robot. His work has been featured in several media outlets, like the New York Times, Popular Science, Scientific American, WIRED, BBC, and CNN. Hanson has given keynote speeches at leading international technology conferences, including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC), and the Ubben Lecture featuring David Hanson and Sophia in 2018. Hanson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Ph.D. in Interactive Arts and Technology from the University of Texas at Dallas.