Robot steals spotlight at White House AI-education summit
text_fields
Washington: No world leader or celebrity outshone the star at Wednesday's White House summit on AI and education—it was a humanoid robot named Figure 03, striding alongside First Lady Melania Trump.
The American-made machine turned heads during the "Fostering the Future Together" event, blending demo with symbolism as global delegates and tech execs gathered.
"It's fair to state you are my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House," Trump quipped.
Figure 03 didn't just walk in—it spoke: "Thank you, first lady, Melania Trump, for inviting me to the White House. It is an honour to be at Fostering the Future Together's global coalition inaugural meeting. I’m Figure 03, a humanoid built for the United States of America, to empower children with technology and education."
After its remarks, the robot mingled briefly before exiting, spotlighting its design for household tasks and human interaction.
Trump seized the moment to pitch AI's education potential: "The future of AI is personified. It will be formed in the shape of humans." She envisioned "Plato," a patient, always-available humanoid tutor teaching literature, science, art, philosophy, math, and history—adapting to each child's needs to build critical thinking.
Yet she urged safeguards: "The safety of our next generation is always paramount," calling for government-private sector teamwork.
The two-day summit drew international reps and tech giants amid debates on AI's role in learning—effective? Ethical? A human teacher replacement? Figure 03 embodied the shift from background tools to frontline partners, signaling AI's rapid march into work, education, and growth.
At the White House, that future wasn't abstract—it walked in.
(Inputs from IANS)