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.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 30th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The United Nations has said that at least 21 people have been executed in Iran and more than 4,000 arrested since the outbreak of war involving the United States and Israel on 28 February.
President Donald Trump discussed how to mitigate the impact of a possible months-long U.S. blockade of Iran's ports with oil companies, a White House official said on Wednesday, as the U.S. renewed its calls for other nations to help open the Strait of Hormuz.
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 billion had so far been spent on the conflict, most of it on munitions. Earlier, Donald Trump said that the U.S. had "militarily defeated" Tehran.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
A report published by Minval Politika has raised new questions over alleged efforts by Luis Moreno Ocampo to shape international pressure against Azerbaijan and influence political dynamics around Armenia.
The decision by the United Arab Emirates to leave OPEC+ on 1 May has put renewed focus on one of the most influential groups in global energy - and how its decisions can shape oil prices worldwide.
Efforts to end the Iran conflict were at an impasse on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump unhappy with the latest proposal from Tehran, which he said had informed the U.S. it was in a "state of collapse" and figuring out its leadership situation.
Elon Musk took the stand on Tuesday (28 April) at a high-stakes trial over the future of OpenAI, casting his lawsuit against the ChatGPT maker as a defence of charitable giving.
A pivotal trial that could shape the governance of artificial intelligence begins Tuesday in California, as Elon Musk and Sam Altman face off over OpenAI’s shift to a for-profit model.
Alphabet Inc’s Google has deepened its operational relationship with the United States Department of Defense (DoD), quietly signing a wide-ranging agreement to deploy artificial intelligence models in highly classified environments.
Market reaction to DeepSeek’s preview of its next-generation artificial intelligence model has been relatively subdued, in sharp contrast to the global shock triggered by its breakthrough releases last year.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said it's installing software on its employees computers to capture keystrokes and mouse movements to use to train its artificial intelligence (AI) agent models.
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