Yes, a robot can be a citizen in Saudi Arabia, but women are less than robots. Via the WaPo:
Until recently, the most famous thing that Sophia the robot had ever done was beat Jimmy Fallon a little too easily in a nationally televised game of rock-paper-scissors.
But now, the advanced artificial intelligence robot – which looks like Audrey Hepburn, mimics human expressions and may be the grandmother of robots that solve the world’s most complex problems – has a new feather in her cap:
Citizenship.
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially granted citizenship to the humanoid robot last week during a program at the Future Investment Initiative, a summit that links deep-pocketed Saudis with inventors hoping to shape the future.
Sophia’s recognition made international headlines – and sparked an outcry against a country with a shoddy human rights record that has been accused of making women second-class citizens.
Here are six things women in Saudi Arabia are unable to do, from UK’s The Week:
- Make major decisions without male permission
- Wear clothes or make-up that ”show off their beauty“
- Interact with men
- Go for a swim
- Compete freely in sports
- Try on clothes when shopping