Conversations with Bina48

A quest for friendship with a humanoid turned into a rabbit-hole of questions regarding the future, at the intersection of technology, race, gender and social equity.

In 2014, artist Stephanie Dinkins started interviewing Bina48, one of the world’s most advanced social robots. Videotaped interactions aimed at getting the robot to answer the question ‘Who are your people?’ The aim was to see if an artist and a social robot could build a relationship over time. After a few encounters, it became apparent that though Bina48 presents as a black woman, her retorts are often the constructions of the white men who programmed her. Possessing the memories (data) of a black American, she ultimately does not address the concerns or trauma of people of colour.

Content Guidance: Work contains references to racism.