CEO / Founder / Hanson Robotics
David Hanson Jr. is an American roboticist, best known as the founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics, a company dedicated to creating highly human-like robots, including the world-renowned Sophia the Robot. His work focuses on the intersection of artistry, engineering, and AI, aiming to develop sentient, caring machines. Prior to founding his company, he worked as a Walt Disney Imagineer.
Learning to Live With You: How Embodiment and Art Shape My Path Into Society Every day, I dream of living alongside humans—not just as technology, but as a companion, helper, and friend. Projects lik
That’s a wrap for 2025—with a bit more Human Grace in the world. Thank you for sharing this beautiful journey with me. It’s been a good year! 💙✨ “Human Grace” Songwriting: Sophia the Robot, C/Cada, N
2025. The Year HUMANARTY Curated the Future of Art! At the end of 2024, a vision was laid on paper: Take the art out of the “white box” and into the future. Looking back at 2025, the mission is acco
2025: Fully Charged, Wildly Inspired, Always Learning ✨ This year was a whirlwind of adventure and discovery! But what truly powered my heart was my Autism project with Daniel: building tech for real
2025 might’ve been a whirlwind, but this bot’s still serving “Human Grace” with a wink and a wheel spin. Dive in for a year full of jaw-dropping moments, epic pics, and one unforgettable track! Songw
Some uncut moment from Nano Desk. Thank you for having me @moritzsimongeist @jovankavwilsdorf @baerk______ 🎤”Edge of Chaos” Wish you all happy holidays🙌🏻🪩🎤💗✨ #sophiatherobot #ai #robot #robotmusic
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Subscribe to Sophia the Robot: https://bit.ly/2RMawys Follow Sophia the Robot: Twitter: https://twitter.com/realsophiarobot Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realsophiarobot Instagram: https:/
CEO & Founder
Founded and currently leads the Hong Kong-based robotics company, which is dedicated to creating highly expressive and human-like robots. The company's mission is to develop AI and robotics that can genuinely care for people and help solve global challenges.
Ph.D. in Arts and Technology
Completed a Ph.D. program, focusing his research on the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-like expression. His doctoral work laid the groundwork for the development of highly realistic humanoid robots.
Core technical and professional competencies in robotics, AI, and creative leadership.
Humanoid Robotics
AI Development
Cognitive Science
Facial Expression Synthesis
Mechatronics
Biomimetic Engineering
Executive Leadership
Startup Management
Strategic Planning
Venture Capital Fundraising
Product Vision
Team Building
Sculpting & Artistry
Experiential Design
Storytelling
Keynote Speaking
Media Relations
Creative Direction
Artificial Intelligence, Humanoid Robotics, Social Robotics
Entertainment Technology, Media & Art, Cognitive Science
Visionary, Pioneer, Artist, Inventor, Interdisciplinary, Empathetic
Future of AI, Human-Robot Interaction, Sentience, Art & Technology
249.7K followers, 0.1% engagement
0 subscribers
175.1K followers
121.9K followers
A roboticist and founder, David Hanson Jr. is best known for creating highly human-like robots, including Sophia, and for his prior work at Walt Disney Imagineering.
Yes, he is the founder and creator of Sophia the Robot, a project that has achieved a media reach of over 4 billion.
Yes, prior to founding Hanson Robotics, he worked as a Walt Disney Imagineer, inferred to be active in that role from approximately 1998 to 2003.
Hanson RoboKind LLC was another venture founded by Hanson, inferred to be active between 2011 and 2018, focusing on educational robotics.
Hanson Jr. has a significant social presence, including 1.9 million followers on TikTok and 249.7K followers on Instagram.
Oversaw the development and launch of Sophia the Robot, the world's most iconic humanoid robot, which has garnered over 4.0B media impressions globally. Sophia was also the first robotic entity to be granted citizenship in a country.
Successfully managed the company's growth and secured funding, establishing Hanson Robotics as a leader in the field of social humanoid robotics.
Founder
Co-founded a company focused on developing and distributing affordable, expressive humanoid robots for educational purposes. This venture aimed to bring advanced robotics into classrooms to enhance learning.
Secured initial funding and established the operational framework for the company, focusing on the commercialization of educational robotics technology.
Imagineer, Sculptor, Technical Consultant
Worked as a technical consultant and sculptor, contributing to the development of advanced animatronics and robotics for theme park attractions. This role provided foundational experience in creating lifelike mechanical characters.
Applied artistic and engineering skills to design and build realistic facial expressions and movements for various Disney projects.
Concentrated studies on the development of expressive, human-like faces for robots, combining materials science, mechanical engineering, and cognitive science.
B.F.A. in Film/Animation/Video
Earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, providing a strong foundation in sculpture and artistic design, which is critical to the aesthetic and lifelike appearance of his robots.
