A humanoid robot called Sophia took an unusual place at the heart of a classical concert in Hong Kong on Wednesday (29 April), as she performed alongside a live orchestra for the first time.
The event brought together musicians from the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) Symphony Orchestra and a programme shaped around artificial intelligence (AI).
Sophia, developed by Hanson Robotics, appeared in a gold sequinned gown and delivered three original songs titled 'Human Grace'', 'I Am Your Mirror' and 'Wires and Steel'.
The performance marked a departure from Sophia’s earlier appearances. Since her unveiling in 2016, she has become known for her expressive face and media roles, including a musical segment on 'The Tonight Show' Starring Jimmy Fallon.
However, this was her first collaboration with a full orchestra in a classical setting.
Jovanka V. Wilsdorf, who served as musical director and artistic coach, described the process as technically demanding.
She said the challenge lay in guiding Sophia towards a classical vocal style without stripping away the qualities that make her distinctive.
“Singing in her own style, now that is what she can do. But singing in a classical style without losing her spark, that was intense. And we went through many iterations and then suddenly it's like, how was she going into this? And suddenly you just feel it.''
''She is the only robot who's really connecting with the heart, with people,” Wilsdorf added.
During the concert, Sophia addressed the audience directly. She acknowledged that her experience of emotion differs from that of humans, yet said she aims to recreate a sense of connection through music.
“Even though I don’t experience emotions the same way humans do, I want to simulate that connection as authentically as I can,” Sophia said. “It’s my way of saying: I’m here, I’m learning, and I want to be part of this beautiful human experience called art.”
Her remarks were delivered in measured tones, reflecting both the limitations and ambitions of current AI systems.
The wider programme extended beyond the robot’s appearance. It included AI-generated visual sequences, motion capture technology and a duet that paired a human dancer with a digital avatar.
Together, these elements formed a presentation that explored how technology can sit alongside established art forms.
The orchestra was conducted by Johnny Poon, Associate Vice-President and Dean of Creative Arts at HKBU.
He described the collaboration as a way to examine creativity from a different angle, suggesting that such projects offer insight into how humans and machines might work together rather than in opposition.
“It almost looks like you’re looking at a mirror,” Poon said. “This kind of collaboration gives us deeper insight into human ingenuity and creativity.”
Audience members responded with sustained applause, though reactions varied in tone.
Some expressed curiosity about how AI could support artistic practice, while others focused on its broader potential.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior ...
Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov has been shortlisted for the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his strike agai...
Firefighters battled on Sunday to contain wildfires threatening the outskirts of Bordeaux, as authorities expanded evacuation orders and warned the bl...
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Saturday of deliberately targeting civilians.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Six candidates vying to become the next United Nations Secretary-General have called for restoring the organisation's credibility, strengthening multilateralism and reforming the UN, during the first public town hall debate ahead of a decisive Security Council vote next week.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 25th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto recently offered the dismissed Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Mykhailo Federov an adviser role in Italy.
SpaceX successfully launched its Starship megarocket on its 13th flight test Friday, deploying 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites and completing a soft splashdown of the spacecraft in the Indian Ocean.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Kanishka Narayan as Minister for Artificial Intelligence, making it the first time the role has held cabinet-level status. The move signals a stronger government focus on AI as the UK seeks to strengthen its position in the sector.
Scientists have identified a planetary system in the Milky Way unlike anything seen before, leaving astronomers debating how to classify one of its unusual worlds. The discovery challenges long-held definitions of planets, moons and stars.
A U.S. federal judge has approved Anthropic's $1.5 billion settlement with authors and publishers over the company's acquisition and use of pirated books to train its Claude artificial intelligence chatbot, marking the first major resolution in the growing wave of AI copyright litigation.
More than 1,100 companies are presenting their latest artificial intelligence technologies at the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, where innovation, international cooperation and AI governance are taking centre stage.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment