David Hanson Ph.D.

Biography

David Hanson develops robots that are widely regarded as the world’s most human-like in appearance, in a lifelong quest to create true living, caring machines. To accomplish these goals, Hanson integrates figurative arts with cognitive science and robotics engineering, inventions novel skin materials, facial expression mechanisms, and collaborative developments in AI, within humanoid artworks like Sophia the robot, which can engage people in naturalistic face-to-face conversations and currently serve in AI research, education, therapy, and other uses.

Hanson worked as a Walt Disney Imagineer, both a sculptor and a technical consultant in robotics, and later founded Hanson Robotics. As a researcher, Hanson published dozens of papers in materials science, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and robotics journals — including SPIE, IEEE, the International Journal of Cognitive Science, IROS, AAAI, AI magazine and more. He wrote two books including Humanizing Robots and received several patents. Hanson was featured in the New York Times, Popular Science, Scientific American, WIRED, BBC and CNN. He also received earned awards from NASA, NSF, Tech Titans’ Innovator of the Year, RISD, Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial, and the co-received the 2005 AAAI first place prize for open interaction of an AI system. Hanson holds a Ph.D. in Interactive Arts and Technology from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a BFA in film Animation video from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Videos

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The Future of Human-like Robotics

Delve into the evolving landscape of human-robot interaction and its societal implications. Discover David's innovative work that has placed him at the forefront of the creation of the world’s most human-like robots, such as the iconic Sophia the robot.

Creating Empathetic Robots

Explore the development of empathetic robots and their potential impact on human well-being, aimed at creating a positive impact in society.

Artificial Intelligence and Creativity

Examine the intersection of AI and creativity that seeks to uncover new possibilities for innovation. Explore the creative process behind how David creates human-like robots with intelligence, feelings, and expressions to depict human behavior.

Ethical Considerations in Robotics

Address ethical dilemmas in robotics and advocate for responsible AI development.

The Psychology of Robot Design & Human-Robot Collaboration:

Explore the psychological aspects of robot design and their influence on human perception. Understand the potential for collaboration between humans and robots in various fields to work together in the future.