SpecialtyNetworkSllc – China has made history by admitting a humanoid robot into a PhD program. The robot, named Xueba 01, was created by the Shanghai University of Science and Technology with support from DroidUp Robotics. It has joined the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA) as a doctoral student in Drama and Film. This marks a turning point where artificial intelligence steps into higher education.
The robot will spend four years studying traditional Chinese opera under the PhD program. According to STA, the initiative aims to bring together art and technology in a new way. Xueba 01 has already received a digital student ID card and will officially begin classes on September 14, 2025.
Professor Yang Qingqing, a well-known Shanghai artist, will guide the robot. Xueba 01 will study stage performance, scriptwriting, and set design. It will also learn technical skills such as motion control and language generation. During a demonstration, the robot mimicked the famous “orchid fingers” gesture of opera legend Mei Lanfang. Surprisingly, human students copied it naturally, showing the machine’s ability to influence peers.
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Xueba 01 stands 1.75 meters tall and weighs 30 kilograms. It has a silicone face capable of showing lifelike expressions. Dressed in glasses and simple attire, the robot communicates fluently in Mandarin. Developers believe that one day Xueba 01 could become an AI opera director or even launch its own robotic art studio.
The announcement has sparked mixed opinions. Some students argue that opera requires unique voices and deep emotions, something a robot may lack. Others worry about resources, fearing that AI might take opportunities from human art students. Still, supporters see Xueba 01 as an experiment that blends tradition with future innovation.
Observers say Xueba 01 represents the growing relationship between people and machines. Optimists believe this could reshape the meaning of creativity. Skeptics insist that true art comes only from lived human experience. Either way, Xueba 01’s admission as the world’s first AI PhD art student is a bold step into uncharted territory.
