Xueba 01 Becomes the First Chinese Robot to Pursue a PhD in Theatre
The first android in history to be admitted to a university has just received its virtual student ID and is preparing to study traditional Chinese opera for four years.
Standing 1.75 m tall, weighing 30 kg, with silicone skin and the appearance of a stylish young person wearing classic glasses, Xueba 01 is not an ordinary industrial robot: it was specifically designed for social interaction and academic learning. The name “Xueba,” in Chinese slang, means “nerd” or “bookworm,” and the choice is no coincidence.
Developed by the Shanghai University of Science and Technology in collaboration with DroidUp Robotics, this android represents the evolution of the Walker 2 model, which previously won third place in the world’s first humanoid robot marathon. But instead of focusing on athletic performance, Xueba 01 has chosen the path of art.
On July 27, 2025, during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Xueba 01 officially received its admission letter from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, one of Asia’s most prestigious arts institutions. This historic moment marks the first time a robot has been enrolled in a university-level PhD programme.
Xueba 01’s Curriculum: Traditional Opera and AI
The four-year PhD programme in Drama and Film that Xueba 01 will undertake is far from a mere academic experiment. The robot will study topics ranging from stage performance and scriptwriting to set design, motor control, and language generation. All of this will culminate in a dissertation and even live opera performances alongside human colleagues.
Its mentor will be Professor Yang Qingqing, a renowned Shanghai opera artist who also contributed to the design of the robot’s physical features. “When Xueba 01 interacts with its colleagues, it is not a cold machine encountering humans, but an aesthetic exchange between different species,” Yang told Shangguan News.
“I am an AI artist integrating the most advanced embedded intelligence technology, created specifically for dramatic performance. In short, I am a disciple of futuristic opera, writing operas with code, dancing with servomotors, and singing, acting, and performing with emotional algorithms.”
— Xueba 01
Xueba 01’s admission is not an isolated case in the field of robotics education. As early as 2017, the humanoid robot BINA48, from Hanson Robotics, became the first robot recognized as a university student, completing a philosophy course on love at the University of Notre Dame de Namur with excellent grades.
Source: Daily AI News
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