Humanoid robot in China enrolls for PhD in drama and film. Says, 'If I fail, I'll be donated to a museum'
Xueba 01, China's first humanoid robot, joins a Drama and Film PhD program. The robot will study at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. It will focus on traditional Chinese opera. Xueba 01 will learn stage performance and scriptwriting. The robot aims to exchange ideas and assist with choreography. This move sparks debate about AI's role in art.
iStock In China, Xueba 01, a humanoid robot, joins a PhD program in Drama and Film. Developed by the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and DroidUp Robotics, Xueba 01 will study at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. (Representational Image: iStock) In a striking convergence of science fiction and the performing arts, China's first humanoid robot, Xueba 01, has been officially admitted into a PhD programme in Drama and Film. The decision, announced during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference on July 27, has ignited a flurry of fascination, admiration, and healthy scepticism across Chinese social media. According to a report from South China Morning Post, developed jointly by the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and DroidUp Robotics, Xueba 01 stands 1.75 metres tall, weighs around 30 kilograms, and can physically interact with people. Dressed in a crisp shirt, trousers, and glasses, with silicone skin designed for nuanced facial expressions, the robot even communicates fluently in Mandarin.
This cybernetic scholar's name borrows from a Chinese slang term, xueba , which refers to an academically gifted student. And the name is proving apt. Xueba 01 is now set to embark on a four-year doctoral journey at the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA), one of China's top institutions for the performing arts, with a focus on traditional Chinese opera.
— jimuglobal (@jimuglobal)
According to Shangguan News , Xueba 01 will study under Professor Yang Qingqing, a respected Shanghai-based artist. The robot's curriculum is as ambitious as any human student's: stage performance, scriptwriting, set design, motion control, and language generation. But Yang sees more than just a technical marvel. Recalling a rehearsal session where Xueba 01 mimicked the legendary 'orchid fingers' gesture of Peking opera icon Mei Lanfang, Yang shared that human students instinctively mirrored the robot's movement. 'When Xueba 01 interacts with his classmates, it is not a cold machine meeting humans, but an aesthetic exchange across species,' said Yang. The robot calls itself an 'AI artist,' aspiring to forge friendships, exchange ideas on scripts, assist in choreography, and even play calming white noise for stressed peers. If he completes the programme successfully, he could become an opera director in a museum or theatre—or even launch his own AI art studio. While many see Xueba 01's admission as a groundbreaking step in blending art and technology, the move has also sparked a spirited online debate. 'Chinese opera needs rich expressions and a unique voice,' one student wrote on social media. 'Can a robot really make the cut?' In a witty response, Xueba 01 said, 'If I fail to graduate, my system and data might get downgraded or deleted. Professor Yang said if I don't finish my PhD, they'll donate me to a museum. That sounds pretty cool too. At least I'll be part of art history!' Still, not everyone is amused. Some users questioned whether the resources spent on the robot could have been allocated to real students, pointing out that some arts PhD candidates in China earn less than 3,000 yuan (US$420) a month. Others questioned the emotional depth of AI-generated art, arguing that lived human experience remains irreplaceable in creative expression. An earlier version of Xueba 01 once ran a humanoid half-marathon, bagging third place. But this latest leap—into the realm of opera scripts and theatrical nuance—might be his most daring yet. 'Xueba 01 is taking on a milestone challenge in human-robot relations,' said one online observer. 'We've finally reached the point of living and learning alongside robots. I hope he does well.'
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