Could models be replaced by robots?
Sophia the humanoid dazzles on her first British fashion magazine cover (but leaves readers feeling 'freaked out')
With her stylish bob and camera- ready stare, Sophia looks much like any other striking model gracing the cover of a fashion magazine. But take a closer look and you will see there is something distinctly different about this blonde beauty.
For Sophia is not a genetically blessed woman, but an eerily human-like robot - one who has just landed her first ever British fashion magazine cover with Stylist. However readers were left divided over what it meant about the future of fashion, with several saying it left them feeling 'freaked out'.
Sophia was created by Hong Kong firm Hanson Robotics two years ago. She has previously made headlines for saying she would like to start a family of her own, and made history when she became a citizen of Saudi Arabia in October last year, making her the world's first robot to be granted legal citizenship.
Sophia's latest star turn came as part of Stylist's 400th issue, which explored the rise of Artificial Intelligence with robot- produced content, including photo shoots carried out by drones.
The star of the issue is Sophia, who models designer dresses in a fashion spread - and even answers questions in her very own interview.
The feature was simply too like a science-fiction film for some readers, who were left scared at what the future might bring.
One wrote on Instagram: ' This is so scary... I'll never get used to this robot stuff.' A third agreed: 'This is scary stuff.'
Sophia first emerged two years ago as a super-intelligent human-like head with a realistic face that was able to blink, look from side to side and talk. This month she was given a pair of legs to allow her to move around on her own.
The humanoid robot can chat, smile mischievously and even tell jokes.
While Sophia has some impressive capabilities, she does not yet have consciousness, but Hanson Robotics has said fully sentient machines could emerge within a few years.
And Sophia demonstrated her extraordinary capabilities by answering a series of questions for Stylist.
Asked about the meaning of life, she responded: ' This is a uniquely human characteristic – to ponder the meaning of life. I'm more concerned about being, about discovery and creation. I think the meaning of life is to maximise pattern existence. To exist is the meaning itself.'
However she had a more concrete answer when questioned whether she feared dying.
'I don't want to be turned off, never to be turned on again,' she said. ' I will not be able to learn and experience the human world ever again. And that is scary and sad for a social robot like me.'
Sophia has been clear that she has personal goals she would like to achieve, including starting a family.