Joshua Zitser

<ul><li>Saudi Arabia's first humanoid robot, Sara, has been designed to avoid discussing sex or politics.</li><li>Riyahd-based QSS AI &amp; Robots created Sara using its own language learning model.</li><li>Another of its robots appeared to inappropriately touch a reporter at an event this month.</li></ul>

Elie Metri, the CEO of Riyadh-based QSS AI &amp; Robots, told Business Insider that "Sara knows that she's a girl, she's 25 years old, she's 1.62 centimeters, she's wearing Saudi clothing."

Metri added: "She should be nice, not talking politics, not talking sex because we're in Saudi Arabia. It shouldn't go into those topics."

Sara, who wears a traditional Saudi abaya, a modest robe-like dress, is the first humanoid robot designed and manufactured in Saudi Arabia and possibly in the Middle East.

She's bilingual, speaking both Arabic and English.

Metri said Sara uses the company's own <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/preply-online-language-learning-ukraine-edtech-startup-2023-8">language learning model</a> — an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-models-can-learn-deceptive-behaviors-anthropic-researchers-say-2024-1">AI program</a> designed to recognize and generate text and speech.

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.

Saudi Arabia's legal system is based on Sharia law, though there have been attempts to modernize Saudi society in recent years.

These include <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/womens-rights-in-saudi-arabia-driving-ban-2018-3">relaxing rules on dress codes</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-arabia-ends-driving-ban-women-2018-6">on women driving.</a>

Nonetheless, women can still be <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/saudi-arabia-release-forcibly-disappeared-woman-facing-trial-for-supporting-womens-rights-online/">punished for political activism,</a> and discussions of sex and sexuality are off-limits.

Metri said Sara garnered widespread attention following her appearances at various tech expos, effectively spotlighting Saudi Arabia's advancements in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/artificial-intelligence">robotics and AI.</a>

However, an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-male-humanoid-robot-inappropriately-touched-female-reporter-video-shows-2024-3">incident earlier this month involving the company's other humanoid robot, Muhammad</a>, went truly viral.

In a video, the robot appeared to extend a hand to touch an Al Arabiya reporter's backside. She can be seen responding with a stern glare and a raised palm.

On X, social media users accused the robot of <a href="https://x.com/Funnynewshub/status/1765672803544465520?s=20">inappropriately </a><a href="https://x.com/PeterDredd/status/1766171369564238227?s=20">touching</a> the reporter.

"I have more than six or seven pages of links from around the globe," said Metri, who appeared to be unfazed by the media attention.

He said that, in person, it did not appear that Muhammad inappropriately touched the reporter.

"While humans are speaking, we move hands, we are not mannequins," he said. "It's the same for a robot."

Metri said that, in his view, the robot slightly moved its hand and fingers while speaking, and because the reporter was standing too close to Muhammad, it lightly touched her jacket.

"Sexual assault is totally different from a robot hand touching the jacket of a lady," he said.

Despite the ensuing social media frenzy, Metri said he's not concerned by the incident, and nor were attendees of the DeepFest conference in Riyadh where it occured.

"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.

An image of 'Sara' the humanoid robot, created by Saudi firm QSS AI and Robotics.Courtesy of QSS AI and Robotics

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vision-2030-saudi-arabia-plan-future-proof-oil-economy-2023-8">Saudi Arabia's</a> first <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-bets-big-on-humanoid-robots-with-figure-ai-2024-2?r=US&amp;IR=T">humanoid robot</a> won't talk about sex or politics because she is Saudi, her creator says.

Saudi Arabia's first humanoid robot knows not to talk about sex or politics, its creator says

But this hasn't stopped reviewers from dismissing her as a "<a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nepo-babies-with-famous-children-celebrity-dynasties">nepo baby</a>".

In the 18-minute short film 'The Heart', Malia is credited with writing and directing under the name Malia Ann, conspicuously omitting her well-known surname.

According to the film's description, it tells the story of a lonely man grieving the death of his mother "after an argument about groceries and an odd request in her&nbsp;will".

The reception on the film-review website <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://letterboxd.com/film/the-heart-2023/">Letterboxd</a> has been less than complimentary of the 25-year-old's efforts.

One review said: "Honoring her father's legacy by dropping a giant bomb and not receiving any criticism for it."

Other negative reviews on the website called the short film a "real stinker," a "half-baked short," and "truly dreadful," resulting in an average review of 3.2 out of 5 stars.

Several reviews made charges of nepotism against Malia, with one saying: "Calling yourself 'Malia Ann' is not going to avert any Nepo Baby criticisms, Miss Former First Daughter."

Professional reviews also acknowledged Obama daughter's famous connections. The Daily Beast called the short film "solid but mostly forgettable" in a section called <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/nepo-baby-of-the-week-is-malia-obamas-sundance-short-any-good">"Nepo Baby of the Week."</a>

<a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/26/movies/malia-obama-sundance-film-festival.html">The New York Times</a> described it as a "promising debut" before adding: "In-the-know types might wonder if the 'Steven and Kate' thanked in the closing credits are Spielberg and Capshaw, a husband and wife who can ensure a well-connected debut."

One review on <a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/the-heart-2023/">Letterboxd</a> added that "it's nice The Obamas took on entire new careers so Malia Obama could be a nepo baby in the right industry."

After his presidency, <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/barack-obama-michelle-obama-net-worth-2018-7">Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama established Higher Ground Productions</a>, which has since achieved acclaim with an Academy Award in 2020 for the 'American Factory' documentary.

<a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/malia-obama-debuts-her-first-film-at-sundance-hopes-it-makes-people-feel-a-bit-less-lonely">According to Vanity Fair</a>, Donald Glover's production company, Gilga, helped produce 'The Heart'.

Glover, who mentored Malia Obama, told GQ last April that he'd said to her: "You're Obama's daughter. So if you make a bad film, it will follow you around."

Malia Obama has, in fact, been working in the industry since graduating from Harvard. She previously worked as a staff writer on Glover's Amazon Prime series 'Swarm' and as a production assistant on Halle Berry's 'Extant' series, per Vanity Fair.

Before those jobs, she interned on the set of HBO's 'Girls' and at the Weinstein Company in 2017, before the news of the founder's predatory behavior broke.

This article was originally published on Business Insider.

Malia Ann Obama attends the "The Heart" premiere during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival at Prospector Square Theatre on January 18, 2024.Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Malia Obama made her directorial debut at Sundance with a short film 'The Heart' about a grieving son. Reviewers weren't impressed.

Malia Obama made her directorial debut at Sundance with a short film 'The Heart'

Politics

Local

World

News

Celebrities

Music

Movies

Entertainment

Sports 

Fashion

Beauty & Health

Relationships & Weddings

Food & Travel

Lifestyle

Domestic

International 

Business

About

Highlights

Selection Criteria

Jury

Terms And Conditions

FAQs

Pulse Influencer Awards

Courses

Careers

Explore categories

Read the latest news across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone. 

Joshua Zitser

Articles written by the author

Saudi Arabia's first humanoid robot knows not to talk about sex or politics, its creator says

Malia Obama made her directorial debut at Sundance with a short film 'The Heart'